Write-RightWeb Tools for College Writers

Created by

Noel EscobarMargo Salas

Jesse CandanozaMartín Perna

Overview

• Conclusions from interview with client• Decision-making and planning process• Plan / Wiki Content– Six Traits of Writing: Online Index– Visual Web Toolbox: Four tutorials– ESL Resources– Visual Bibliography

Conclusions from Interview

• Many students are using Internet for first time• Few conceive of it as a research tool• Students lack experience and confidence in

writing • Need tools that operate at the basic level• Need more visual tools• Need more ESL-specific tools

Our Strategy• Don’t re-invent the wheel: we aren’t

reading/curriculum experts• Create pathfinders to existing expertise• Create visual tutorials at the most basic level• Create something specific to our client’s needs

at UTB (ESL resources, visual references)

Write-Right Wiki

Six Traits of Writing Index

• Links to scholarly and popular resources• Multimedia-video about good writing

Six Traits of Writing Index• Example of Six Traits links

Visual references for students about writing

Visual References

• Learning activities and games for ESL students

ESL Resources

Visual Web Toolbox

• Smart Thinking Tutorial: Margo Salas• Web Searches: Jesse Candanoza• Blogs as Writing Tools: Martín Perna• Kinesthetic Learning: Noel Escobar

Using SmartThinking

Connect with an E-structor

Submit your writing

Submit a question

Academic resources

Web as a Research Tool

Web as a Research Tool

Blogs as Writing Tools

• Objective: To teach following things– Definition of a blog– Types of blogs– How blogs can be useful writing tools– How to create, edit, and customize a blog

Blogs as Writing Tools

• Rationale: – New writers can build confidence while blogging – Practice writing skills while building multimedia

skills– Open their writing up to feedback from other

writers

Blogs as Writing Tools

• What is a blog?– An online multimedia journal that you can edit

and make regular entries.

Blogs as Writing Tools

• Types of blogs– Personal– Political– Entertainment– Business– Almost every subject, in all languages

Blogs as Writing Tools

• Animoto intro with screenshots of Brownsville/South Texas area blogs

Blogs as Writing Tools

• Creating a blog: Wordpress.com

Blogs as Writing Tools

• Creating a blog: First blog entry

Blogs as Writing Tools

• Creating a blog: Adding multimedia

Blogs as Writing Tools

• Creating a blog: Customizing layout

Blogs as Writing Tools

• Review of concepts• Interactive component: Brief quiz

Larping2LearnMost students are not able to write well. We will be kinesthetic learning.

What is kinesthetic learning?

Kinesthetic learning is a teaching and learning style in which learning takes place by the student actually carrying out a physical activity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinesthetic_learning

Who likes this type of learning?

Adventure Racing

Ice Climbing

Rappelling

Quad Racing

Horseback Riding

What we are doing now is not working.

• Why keep doing it the same way?

– The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting something different.

Some teachers say….

• The students are lazy.• The kids just don’t get it.• They are not worth the trouble.• It was hard for me so what makes these

students different?• I am not here to entertain the students.

Learn to Write right

• Make learning fun.• Keep the body in motion• Match the assignment to games.• Its easy.

References• http://dezignus.com/jumping-silhouettes/• http://www.silhouettesclipart.com/running-clip-art-runners-silhouette-clip

-art.html• http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/courses/adventuresports/courselist.html• http://www.fieldskills.com/news%20archive.asp• http://www.weblo.com/property/Media_Print_Radio_Television_Internet

_/USA_Today/468093/• http://www.hickerphoto.com/horseback-adventure-7881-tray.htm• http://www.anaconda.com.au/Adventures.aspx• http://dancepath.org/filmsandphotos.html• http://www.bccymca.org/seasons/definitions/ropescourses/index.htm• http://www.twu.edu/leep/ropes.htm• http://www.cliffsandcables.org/Ropes%20Courses.htm

Fin