In conjunction with our Blog Carnival on digital literacy in K-12 classroom, I had the opportunity to chat with Delia DeCourcy, a Literacy Consultant with Oakland Schools and the Associate Director of the Oakland Writing Project in Waterford, Michigan. In October, Delia coordinated the 4T Virtual Conference on digital writing, an online conference that focused on research, pedagogy, and tools for writing in digital spaces in the K-12 classroom.
During our talk, Delia discusses the genesis of the 4T Conference and the partnerships that made it possible. She addresses some of the logistical challenges (such as creating interactive sessions) and benefits (like attending in your pajamas!) of organizing a virtual conference. She also offers lessons-learned about platforms (Blackboard Collaborate vs. Adobe Connect) and approaches (use moderators!) helpful for others interested in organizing a similar event.
For researchers and practitioners, she points to many of the resources that emerged from the sessions, which are archived and accessible on the 4T website. She reviews the breadth of approaches to digital writing, from keynotes on facilitating civic engagement and approaching writing as “making,” to panels on increasing student engagement and easing the transition from high-school to college-level writing. Other popular sessions provided strategies for blogging in the elementary school classroom and reframing the relationship between writing and hacking.
Finally, watch the interview for Delia’s closing thoughts on emerging trends, “hot topics” across sessions, and issues of continued concern for researchers and practitioners.
Want to find out more about digital literacy in the K-12 classroom? Join the DRC for a Twitter chat (#DRCchat) on Monday, Nov. 16 @ 7pm EST.
