Jamie Colwell

Obstacles to Developing Digital Literacy on the Internet in Middle School Science Instruction

Obstacles, and instructional responses to them, that emerged in two middle school science classes during a formative experiment investigating Internet Reciprocal Teaching (IRT), an instructional intervention aimed at increasing digital literacy on the Internet, are reported in this manuscript. Analysis of qualitative data revealed that IRT enabled students to explain and demonstrate appropriate strategies for locating and evaluating information on the Internet when they were asked to do so. However, students did not use these strategies or they quickly abandoned them when working independently or in small groups during inquiry projects. Data revealed three obstacles that inhibited efforts to promote consistent, independent use of strategies: the teacher’s role in student inquiry, the structure of inquiry projects, and students’ previous strategies. Results suggest notable challenges to implementing instruction that inculcates dispositions among middle school students leading to consistent, independent use of appropriate strategies for locating and evaluating information on the Internet. Implications for practitioners, policy makers, and researchers are discussed.

Examining Preservice Teachers' Beliefs about Disciplinary Literacy in History through a Blog Project.

ABSTRACT This qualitative case study explored preservice teachers’ (PSTs) beliefs about disciplinary literacy as they engaged in a blog project with middle-school students to discuss historical texts. Twenty-eight PSTs, enrolled in a semester-long social studies methods course and participating in the blog project as a course assignment, constituted the case study. Data were collected through semistructured and informal interviews, classroom observations, questionnaires, audio/video recordings, and blog postings and analyzed using a constant comparative analysis. Emergent successive themes focused on positive PST perspectives about disciplinary literacy, the impact of practice on beliefs about disciplinary literacy, and the influence of continued blog writing on beliefs. Findings indicated how extended experiences working with middle-school students in a low-risk blog setting may promote positive beliefs about using disciplinary literacy in instruction, but those beliefs may be malleable as PSTs’ experience the literacy needs of struggling readers.

Considering a Twitter-Based Professional Learning Network in Literacy Education.

ABSTRACT This study explored how 26 preservice secondary content teachers perceived their experiences participating in and developing a Twitter-based professional learning network focused on disciplinary literacy. Participants completed blog reflections and anonymous online surveys to reflect on their experiences, which served as data for this study. A phenomenological approach was used to analyze data, and three themes emerged from analysis related to preservice teachers’ perceptions: (a) the complexity of posting professional resources and ideas to Twitter, (b) skepticism concerning participation in an online professional learning network, and (c) value in access to multiple educators, disciplinary experts, and classroom resources. Implications for these results are discussed in regard to developing professional learning networks in preservice teacher education to support disciplinary literacy.

Supporting Teachers in Integrating Digital Technology Into Language Arts Instruction to Promote Literacy

Abstract A systematic review of relevant literature was conducted to provide a source of information and practical guidelines for teachers and teacher educators to consider instructional methods for using digital tools in elementary language arts classrooms to promote literacy. Focal studies are highlighted to provide rich descriptions of practical uses and considerations of integrating digital tools into literacy instruction. The following nine digital tools are discussed to provide methods, affordances, and potential obstacles to their use: (a) wikis, (b) digital video production tools, (c) blog/online threaded discussion, (d) iPad apps, (e) digital games, (f) Kindle e-reader, (g) podcasts, (h) digital cartoon creator, and (i) e-mail. Barriers from the research for each tool are also discussed to provide a comprehensive resource for teachers and teacher educators.