Rhode Island Writing Project Conference Reflection

   Dr. J asked us why we were at the conference. I wrote down "because Dr. J made us". That was the truth. When we were first told that it was a mandatory conference, I was reluctant and didn't want to go. However, as we got closer to the conference, and we were moving along in the semester, I was getting excited about the conference. I was excited to learn about new writing techniques both digital and the traditional paper and pencil.
   The first workshop I went to was called Empowering Students using Ira Shore's Problem Posing Writing for a Democratic Classroom. Amanda Scott was the presenter. During this workshop, we learned how to help students compose essays through a series of questions. This seminar also presented us with ways in which students can revise and work together to create a group essay.
   The second workshop was very interesting. It was digital storytelling. We were presented with a variety of ways in which students can develop their writing. One that was especially creative and unique, was this site that allowed the students to create storyboards that illustrate their writings. The students could build characters, scenes, and anything else they decided was necessary to help their writings become more than just words.
   Troy Hick's opening speech was illuminating and informative. I had never heard of the 6 different ways to assess online information. Knowing about these tools and how to teach them to my students will help cultivate more in-depth and "factual" research.
   By the end of the conference, I thought about Dr. J's question again. "Why are we here?" We were there to develop our digital literacies. We were there to learn how to cultivate digitally literate students. We were there to find new and exciting ways to help our students become creative writers, in all senses of the word. 

Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 12, 2018 at 8:40 PM

    Loved that you had a journey through the semester to get to the RIWP and I'm especially glad you ended up enjoying it the way you did. That first workshop was really awesome so it was cool to work with you in there!

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