Potsdam LiteracyTech Wiki:Sheard Literacy Center Mentoring Tools & Tips

Developed by graduate students in GRDG 625:

Using Technology to Teach Literacy

Fall 2012

What’s a Wiki?It’s a type of website that allows users to

write, edit, and comment collaboratively

It requires almost no knowledge of computer programming language or coding

It is hosted by a company and enables users to choose features; basic sites may be free; added features cost a bit

Our course WikiHosted by “Wikispaces.com” for FREE

Used to post course materials and links to many other kinds of relevant resources for literacy teaching with technology

Includes a new feature: “Sheard Literacy Center Mentoring Program Tech Tools & Teaching Tips” just for YOU!

The Wiki URL: http://potsdamliteracytech.wikispaces.com

From the main Wiki page, go to the Navigation Bar on the left. Find the “Sheard Literacy Center Mentoring” area:

You can explore the whole site, but THIS area has resources designed especially for YOU and your mentee

Mentoring Tools & Teaching Tips = Three Major Topics

1) Animals & Nature

2) Heroes

3) Local and Global Connections

Within EACH topic, you’ll find…

Book Reviews (some books available on campus)

Links to High-Quality Lesson Plans Links to Web 2.0 Tools (more in a minute…)Links to Games, Activities, Websites & BlogsInstructor Resources (videos related to

literacy teaching, technology & literacy, and more)

Use, Create, Adapt!

“Animals & Nature” and “Heroes” are geared toward elementary-level learners

“Local & Global” focuses more on middle-level learners

BUT - You should explore them all. You might get ideas in unexpected places. For example….

Make a cartoon with your mentee

Find this under “Heroes > Web 2.0” but, with your help, a mentee of any age can use it.

Slow down! What is Web 2.0????

Web 2.0 refers to websites that let you “author” using designs and tools provided on the site itself. Social media are one type of Web 2.0 site. There are tons of educational tools for teaching. Keep in mind:

You may need to create an account to useWe suggest you create a gmail account and use

that address rather than your Potsdam emailDO NOT enter information about your mentee

online. Only enter information needed to use the Web 2.0 tool. “Explore FIRST for TEACHING FIT”

And there’s more Web 2.0On the main page of our Course Wiki, explore

“Web 2.0 Tools for Literacy Teaching & Learning” with a link to

“Web 2.0 - Cool Tools for Schools”

(http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com)

Of course, it’s not all Web 2.0Each TOPIC includes links to informational

text resources, games, videos, art/craft ideas, and more for your mentees

Each TOPIC also includes “Instructor Resources” for you, including:

Academic journal articles related to literacy teaching and teaching with technology

“How-to” videos for teaching & learning

We hope you learn and enjoy

BEAR WITH US!The Wiki is still being

developed. We will be adding to it and finalizing over the next week or so.

Send questions, comments, ideas to:

Prof. Marta Albertalbertmk@potsdam.edu