I love that Margaret Simon has started a Sunday Link Up for posts about digital literacy at her blog.
I've noticed that this link-up/meme is changing how I think during the week, much like other ones I participate in, such as Nonfiction Wednesday, Celebration Saturday, It's Monday! What Are You Reading?, and Slice of Life. In order to participate in those, I need to choose more nonfiction books, look for the positive, keep a record of my reading each week, and think of writing topics. Now...what can I do to learn more about digital tools in the literacy classroom? It creates a good kind of pressure - a nudging in the direction I want to go in order to be an effective 21st century educator. I'm becoming more aware of what technology I want to try out with my students, looking for great ways to engage kids.
In this month's literacy contract (for more on literacy contracts, see Megan Ginther's and my articles at Choice Literacy under "For Members Only" and consider becoming a member if you haven't already - there are MANY articles and videos on digital literacy in this fantastic website), my students and I are going to concentrate on nonfiction:, reading, researching, and writing nonfiction. I've used mind maps with kids for several years now, and they've always created them on chart paper. They turn out like this (a group reading Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges created these last year):
Now I'm wondering how we can advance this thinking tool to take us further, so I looked up digital mind maps and found these links. Time to start exploring! Partners are going to be reading various books in the Scientists in the Field series, which gives us lots of great digital information through their website. How would digital mind-mapping help kids expand their nonfiction reading strategies, find out more about the topic of their books, and make connections?
I'm sure some of you tech-savvy teachers out there have already explored this idea. If so, let me know what you've used and what you have found out. I would love to have a conversation about it!
Holly, My kids are in the middle of their research projects right now too. You've got me thinking about using mind maps as a way for them to design their web pages. I'm off to do some of my own exploring right now. :)
ReplyDeleteLet us know if you try one of the apps suggested for mind mapping. Doesn't there seem to be an app for anything you want to do these days? I was not familiar with any of them on your link. I, too, am thinking more intently during the week about my posts. Thanks for promoting DigiLit Sunday.
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