Multifaceted Approach to Literacy in The 21st Century

? Hello, Purposeful Educators! ?

Welcome to week 8 of the 12-week goal to improve students' writing abilities. Whether you teach language arts, science, history, or any other subject, this goal is for all of us. (See the launch post here.) By integrating AI tools into our teaching practices, we can offer our students personalized, effective, and engaging ways to improve their writing skills. As we continue our journey to harness the power of technology in enhancing literacy, this week brings us an exciting blend of innovation, reflection, and anticipation. From the upcoming webinar on literacy in the 21st century to the tangible achievements in our classrooms, we're setting new benchmarks in educational excellence.

Let's dive into how our recent endeavors with Scrible, Listenwise , and a wide variety of reading materials are reshaping our approach to literacy and student engagement.

?? Scrible Update

Last week, the newsletter showed how I use Scrible to demonstrate the process of navigating a complex primary source article. This marks a progression from our approach one month ago (described here), where AI played a key role in assisting students with their reading tasks. The shift is towards placing greater responsibility on students themselves for engaging with the articles, albeit with my continued support. I'll be sharing insights on employing Scrible among other tools in an upcoming webinar on March 20.

?? Boosting Listening Skills with Listenwise

This week, students used Listenwise to assess their baseline listening skills. This tool enables us to seamlessly gather insights into students' listening abilities, which in turn informs our teaching strategies and enhances learning outcomes. Listenwise's integration into our curriculum is streamlined and efficient, requiring no additional testing time yet providing valuable data through its assessments embedded within diverse curricular collections. Check them out here.

The significance of developing strong listening skills cannot be overstated. Effective listening is foundational for engaging in meaningful communication, comprehending complex oral information, and performing critical listening—an essential skill for navigating the complexities of college coursework and the demands of today's dynamic workplace environments.

Moreover, focusing on listening skills is a matter of equity; it ensures that all students, regardless of their reading proficiency, have the opportunity to access, engage with, and understand vital content. This inclusive approach supports a diverse range of learners, acknowledging that understanding spoken information is crucial for full participation in society and the workforce.

Using podcasts on current events not only ensures content relevance and engagement but also addresses a broad spectrum of listening strands, providing intuitive reports that shed light on students' performance across these areas. Having used Listenwise for many years, its emphasis on cultivating listening skills has always resonated with my teaching philosophy. This year, incorporating it into our routine was delayed, a delay that became apparent in students' comprehension of verbal conversations and instructions.

To address this, I'm introducing a "listen-up" activity as a once-weekly warm-up. Our current research topic is bioaccumulation. Students have been conducting experiments where they expose microorganisms to a variety of familiar substances to observe their short and long-term effects. They are making connections to the bioaccumulation of mercury in tuna and microplastics. This podcast episode on plastics pollution is a perfect fit.

Initially, we'll engage in whole-class listening sessions, displaying the live transcript on the board and student devices for accessibility.

Gradually, as students' proficiency improves, we will transition to individual listening exercises—first with and then without the transcript. This progression fosters a gradual shift in ownership of the learning process from teacher-directed to student-led.

Students will personally track their progress. Integrating metacognition and self-directed learning into our listening skills has a profound impact of reflective practices on student growth. By encouraging students to monitor their own progress, we're not just teaching them to be better listeners; we're fostering an environment where they become active participants in their learning journey. This self-monitoring process is a key component of metacognition, enabling students to become aware of their learning processes, identify their strengths and challenges, and adjust their strategies accordingly. Such reflective practices empower students, promoting independence and the ability to direct their learning. Simply asking students to track their progress can significantly contribute to their ability to set realistic goals, evaluate their achievements, and develop resilience in the face of challenges, laying a solid foundation for lifelong learning and adaptability.

Progress toward the 12-week Goal

?? Leading Indicators

Engagement with AI Tools: Students' daily interaction with SchoolAI Sidekick illustrates the tool's effective role in enhancing their writing skills, comfortably positioned as an aid rather than a shortcut. This consistent use underlines the tool's value in fostering genuine skill development.

Frequency of AI-Assisted Feedback: The introduction of daily feedback from Sidekick has transformed the writing process, making it not only easier and faster but also significantly improving the quality of student work. This immediacy and quality of feedback are pivotal in fostering a supportive learning environment.

Participation in Professional Development: My commitment to professional growth continues as I seek out PD opportunities focused on specialized skills that bolster my feedback mechanisms. This pursuit is part of my broader goal to cultivate a learning community deeply invested in literacy and AI, highlighting the dedication to staying at the forefront of educational innovation.

Initial Student Feedback: The diversity of our learning initiatives—from engaging with novels and conducting book study sessions to leveraging listening exercises—has been met with enthusiasm from our students. They appreciate the varied opportunities to enhance their comprehension and writing skills, reflecting a rich, multifaceted approach to literacy education.

?? Lagging Indicators

Improvement in Writing Quality: I've observed notable advancements in students' ability to document observations during lab experiments on microorganisms, signaling an improvement in writing quality. Anticipation builds as we prepare for a long-form writing project next week, which will serve as a comparative measure against our initial benchmarks, offering a concrete testament to students' growth.

Teacher Observations and Reflections: It's evident that this innovative approach—marrying traditional literacy education with cutting-edge AI tools—has led to increased student engagement and skill development. Students are not just passive recipients of information; they are active participants, exploring the breadth of literacy from scientific reports to creative expressions.

Student Self-Assessment and Reflection: The consistency in student self-assessment and reflection highlights a rise in self-efficacy. Students are increasingly confident in their abilities, attributing their success to the varied learning modalities and support systems we've implemented. This self-awareness and confidence are critical for lifelong learning.

Student Engagement with Authentic Audiences: Students are preparing for "Fall In Love With A Book" podcasts, newsletters, and one-act plays, promising a showcase of their creativity and understanding. Additionally, a new campaign to raise awareness about bioaccumulation is on the horizon, offering another platform for students to engage with authentic audiences and apply their knowledge in meaningful, real-world contexts.

?? Join the Conversation and Dive Deeper into Literacy Innovation ??

Your engagement, feedback, and insights are what make our community of purposeful educators so vibrant and impactful. As we navigate these exciting avenues in literacy and AI integration, I invite you to share your experiences, challenges, and successes. How have these tools and strategies reshaped your approach to teaching and learning? Let's learn from each other and continue to inspire our students to reach new heights.

?? Don't Miss The Upcoming Webinar on Literacy in the 21st Century

Mark your calendars for an enriching session where I'll be sharing insights on employing Scrible, Curipod SchoolAI Perplexity Twee Book Creator (Tools for Schools) and Diffit for Teachers to enhance literacy in the digital age. Join me, Shannon McClintock Miller , Bill Bass , and Jennifer Womble for a thought-provoking discussion hosted by the Future of Education Technology Conference on March 20. Sign up here for this free session and to get a copy of the recording with all of the digital resources.

?? Exciting Developments Ahead

I am thrilled to be presenting a session on Phenomena-Driven Instruction for Science Educators at the PDK International Educators Rising National Conference with summer!

The Educate On Purpose Professional Development and Coaching and Teq course streams are being prepared as I write this! This is going to be a marvelous opportunity for educators to build their capacity to engage all learners.

?? Gems from Across the Internet

As always, Al Kingsley MBE 's newsletter is a must-read for all the best updates in #EdTech. See the most recent here.

This blog from Alex Quigley on Reading Fluency is packed with tips that I'll be returning to as my literacy journey continues.

The magnificent Melody McAllister hosts the Growth Over Grades podcast where she interviews the most impactful educators out there. Find the most recent episode here.

?? An analog share

Listen Wise: Teach Students to Be Better Listener by Monica Brady-Myerov founder of Listenwise can be found on Amazon. A quick read that will leave you wondering why you didn't start instructing listening sooner.

That's a wrap! ?? I hope you have found this useful and will share with your #PLN because we all get better together ??

Until next week. ?? Bonnie