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Supporting Literacy Development in Upper Elementary Classrooms
(Elementary)

Overview

In this course, participants will learn about technologies that can be used to strengthen teaching and learning in many aspects of literacy development in upper elementary classrooms. The content covered includes many ways to use technology to support a variety of approaches to developing students' literacy, including developing vocabulary, framing ideas for writing, promoting critical research skills, facilitating revision processes and teacher and peer editing, and publishing final products. During this course, participants will develop a technology-enhanced lesson that addresses national and local literacy standards. To support this lesson development process, participants will examine a sample lesson plan that incorporates several ways technology can support reading and writing across the curriculum. Participants will also discuss strategies for the ongoing assessment of students' literacy development.

Goals and Products

This online course will enable participants to

1. Develop a technology-enhanced lesson plan that addresses national and local curriculum and technology standards.
2. Learn how technology can enhance each phase of the writing process, from brainstorming to publishing student work.
3. Develop a personal collection of web-based resources for curricular use.
4. Learn approaches for using technology to accommodate students' individual needs.
5. Develop strategies for the ongoing assessment of students' literacy development.

Format and Requirements

This course is divided into six one-week sessions which each include readings, an activity and an online discussion among course participants. The time for completing each session is estimated to be two to four hours.

The outline for the course is as follows:

course participants are expected to complete weekly assignments, including active participation in the online discussion board. In addition, participants will develop and share their ideas to incorporate tools and strategies presented in the course into their own curricula.

Prerequisites

This is an introductory course for teachers, technology specialists, curriculum specialists, professional development specialists or other school personnel. Participants are expected to have regular access to computers, and proficiency with e-mail and current web browsers.

Content and Technology Standards

This course, Using New Technologies to Support Literacy Development in Primary-Level Classrooms , will help participants meet the ISTE Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for All Teachers, especially Standards II, III, V and VI.

In addition, this course will help teachers to enable their students to meet the following English Language Arts Standards as defined by the NCTE, The National Council of Teachers of English, especially Standards 8, 11 and 12.

Reproduced with permission from Education Development Center, Inc.,
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