DigiTXT: eBooks, iPods and Early Elementary

Digital  Text  Ini-a-ve  

eTech Ohio Teacher Planning Grant �

•  The  University  of  Akron  awarded  funding  from  the  eTech  Ohio  Commission  for  the  purpose  of  expanding  the  use  of  technology  in  the  teaching  and  learning  environment.  

•  DigiTXT  serves  to  increase  informa@on  and  communica@on  technology  (ICT)  usage  among  an  es@mated  250  K-­‐2  students,  40  pre-­‐service  teachers  and  20  prac@cing  teachers  and  administrators  in  Summit  County.  

What is DigiTXT? �

1.  Science-­‐based  Prac@ce    

2.  Core  Early  Literacy  Skills  

3.  Knowledgeable  Prac@cing  Teachers  partnering  with  Pre-­‐service  Teachers    

4.  Suppor@ve  Learning  Environment    

DigiTXT Key Components �

1.  Develop  Best  Prac@ces  in  Shared  eBook  Reading    

2.  Integrate  Core  Early  Literacy  Skills  with  Digital  Literacy  Skills  

3.  Design  21st  Century  Learning  Spaces  

DigiTXT Goals �

DigiTXT Partners �

The  University  of  Akron  

Coventry  Local  Schools  

Green  Local  Schools  

Tallmadge  City  

Schools  

1.  Center  for  Literacy  Staff  

2.  Teachers  

3.  Administrators  

4.  UA  College  of  Educa@on  Faculty  

5.  UA  Students  

DigiTXT Participants �

•  Quality  of  children’s  first  eBooks  

•  Poten@al  of  good  eBooks  

•  Pedagogy  of  first  and  good  eBooks  in  K-­‐2  

The eBook at School�

What  might  e-­‐book  pedagogy  look  like?    

Our BIG Question �

DigiTXT Research Process �

Phase  1:  eBook  4  weeks  

Phase  2:  Environment  4  weeks  

Phase  3:  Instruc@on  4  weeks  

•  Teacher  shares  eBooks  with  small  groups  

eBook Shared Reading �

•  Takes  place  in  the  eBook  Nook  

eBook Shared Reading �

•  U@lizes  touchscreen  PCs  and  mobile  learning  devices    

eBook Shared Reading �

•  Pre-­‐selected  eBooks  

–  Iden-fied  target  words  

–  Pre/post  CBDM  on  vocabulary  

•  eBook  readings  2x  per  week  (repeated  readings)  

•  Individual  re-­‐reads  on  mobile  

•  Video-­‐taped  observa@ons  

–  Lesson  Plans  

•  Debriefs  

Procedures �

Classrooms  

1.  Asus  EeeTop  Touchscreen  PC  

2.  External  Webcam  

3.  Kodak  Digital  Camera  w/  tripod  

4.  Four  8GB  iPod  Touch  

5.  Headphones  

Administrators  

1.  One  16GB  iPad  

District Equipment�

1.  Par@cipate  in  year-­‐long  professional  development  

2.  Par@cipate  in  teacher  surveys,  debriefs  and  interviews  

3.  Field  Experience  in  a  kindergarten,  first  or  second  grade  classroom  

4.  Collect  video  data  

5.  Complete  a  class  project  

Pre-Service Teacher Expectations �

1.  Par@cipate  in  year-­‐long  professional  development  

2.  Par@cipate  in  teacher  surveys,  debriefs  and  interviews  

3.  Complete  eBook  instruc@onal  protocol,  lesson  plans  &  @me  log  

4.  Facilitate  CBDM  Assessment  

5.  Mentor  pre-­‐service  teachers  during  observa@on  periods  

Teacher Expectations �

1.  Provide  ongoing  support  teachers  in  their  effort    

2.  Par@cipate  in  year-­‐long  professional  development  

3.  Par@cipate  in  surveys,  debriefs  and  interviews  

4.  Facilitate  Classroom  Walkthrough  Observa@ons    

5.  Mentor  pre-­‐service  teachers  during  observa@on  periods  

Administrator Expectations �

Questions �

hfp://digitxt.ning.com/