Research Writing Rewired: Lessons That Ground Students' Digital Learning

Our students are online constantly, and yet research shows that only half of teachers say digital tools make writing instruction easier. Research Writing Rewired seeks to turn that statistic upside down.

Or, rather, upside right If we want to ready students for a globalized world, 100% of teachers ought to consider technology an asset to any kind of writing, assert authors Dawn Reed and Troy Hicks. But the "main wiring" still has to be the ELA standards and the essential questions at the heart of each content area. To that end, the authors show you how to use digital tools within a multi-week inquiry unit to increase students' engagement as they write-to-learn and share knowledge. Their book a clear model for tech-rich research writing that will inform your own inquiry-driven units. Guiding components include:

• An inquiry-based, technology-rich unit on identity and culture that provides learners with opportunities to engage with the very same issues that are written about and discussed by citizens of a global society
  
  

• 28 model lessons and a framework including extensions, tech tips, and activities that blend print, image, apps, and video so students build multi-literacy skills day by day
  
  
• Recurring use of best practices like formative assessment, close reading, think alouds and teaching key skills, including analyzing and synthesizing, annotating, checking credibility of sources, discussion, and writing about reading
  
  
• Dozens of lessons and activities built around students' favorite technology tools and online destinations, including: Citelighter, Smore, ThingLink, Padlet, and Cazles, Animoto, Mural.ly, and getLoupe, Genius and Lit Genius, Now Comment, You Voices

• QR codes that take you to video clips on a companion website, so you can see the teaching techniques and digital tools in action

It's up to us to make the digital learning in school a lot more like the digital learning we all do in life. Research Writing Rewired shows us how to channel students' passion for digital communication into meeting ELA goals.

Author: Dawn M. Reed,Troy W. Hicks
Publisher: Corwin Publishers
Published: 11/26/2015
Pages: 264
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.10h x 7.20w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781483358987

About the Author
Troy Hicks is an associate professor of English at Central Michigan University and focuses his work on the teaching of writing, literacy and technology, and teacher education and professional development. A former middle school teacher, he collaborates with K-12 colleagues and explores how they implement newer literacies in their classrooms. Hicks directs CMU's Chippewa River Writing Project, a site of the National Writing Project, and he frequently conducts professional development workshops related to writing and technology. He is author of the Heinemann titles Crafting Digital Writing (2013) and The Digital Writing Workshop (2009) as well as a co-author of Because Digital Writing Matters (Jossey-Bass, 2010) in addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters. In March 2011, Hicks was honored with CMU′s Provost′s Award for junior faculty who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in research and creative activity.

Troy has emerged in the literacy world as a leader--perhaps the leader--in using technology to improve writing instruction. He is a regular presenter at NCTE and the Michigan Reading Association, and is a frequent Featured Speaker and consultant (see list on his CV for details)