Technology as a Tool for Equity and Diversity November 2007 Lynne Culp, UCLA Writing Project Kevin Hodgson, Western Massachusetts Writing Project
Technology as a Tool for Equity
and Diversity
November 2007
Lynne Culp, UCLA Writing Project
Kevin Hodgson, Western Massachusetts Writing Project
Writing into the Workshop
What place do Equity and Diversity have at your school, in your classroom, with your students?
What place do these issues have at your writing project and how is that evident to the public and site members?
15 minutes – share out to the larger group
Please write a few minutes on the following: What is the value in exploring these topics in today’s classroom? Are these topics ‘hot’? Why?
Gender
Sexuality
Race
Social Justice
Please share your writing with someone nearby…
Gender
Sexuality
Race
Social Justice
One Writing Project teacher’s response to the importance of race in her classroom:
Whether we want to face it or not, educators must help our students confront their feelings about race and help them find positive ways to interact with people of all races. I know it’s not in the standards. It’s not in our contract. …When people ask me, “how do you find the time to teach about race”, I ask “how can I NOT find the time?”
What support helps us to work with such topics?
Gender
Sexuality
Race
Social Justice
Lynn Culp: UCLA Writing Project
A proud history of addressing issues of diversity and equity
An interest in encouraging teachers to tackle such issues with their students
A commitment to support teachers and students in writing that is meaningful
A desire to explore new ways to make such writing possible
Equity and Diversity
The study groups
Study groups provideopportunity for teachersto work on powerfulIssues in a supportiveenvironment.
Equity and Diversity + Technology
To add Technology Advantages
– Archiving – Possible expansion/recruitment tool– Powerful Learning
Choosing the ‘right’ technology– Moving out of the comfort zone– Affording a measure of protection
Growth Process for All
Enter: The MOODLE
WHY The MOODLE?
Advantages:
-Security/Privacy
-Server Support at UCLA
Technology as a Tool for Equity and Diversity
The MOODLE
Outcome:
Partial Success: Teachers and students posted some great work on the topic of race. Some became interested in the Moodle. Anthology was produced in the conventional way.
Future: Planned ‘celebration’ with technology may be part of this year’s support.
Writing Out of the Presentation
How do you get a site talking about race and diversity on a
meaningful level and how does technology afford a new dimension of the discussion?
Five Minutes of writing and quick share in small group
Kevin Hodgson: Western Mass Writing Project
Technology as a way to create a “public face” of a writing project site,
through: Weblogs Podcasts Video
The WMWP Presentation File
Writing Out of the Presentation
What are the reasons a site/teacher might use "open"
technology (blogs with complete public access)
versus "closed" technology (Moodle, closed blogs)?
Five minutes of writing and quick share in small group
And Now for Your Participation
What technology are you using to address issues of race and equity or how can you imagine your site using
technology at your site to address these issues?
Has it been successful?What roadblocks might you encounter
and how might you overcome them?30 minutes of writing and sharing at tables and then reporting out to larger group
Technology as a Tool for Equity & Diversity
Feel free to contact us for more information or resources:
Lynn: [email protected]
Or
Kevin: [email protected]