Topic #2 -- Writing Online

If you're a writing teacher, and you want your students to have access to an audience outside of your immediate school or classroom community, the Internet makes that easier than ever before. You can use the Internet to publish student work in a variety of genres, for both public and private audiences. The tools are many, as are your purposes. The trick is to make sure that the tools that you choose match your educational objectives:

• Want to get students interacting and discussing literature? You might want to use a public or private bulletin board.
• Want your students to process and respond to a variety of online information? A blog might be the tool for you.
• Want to build a resource together? Then maybe you should consider a wiki. A wiki is a webpage that anyone can edit. They're great for sharing information or for writing collaboratively.
• How would your administrator react if you put student work on the Internet in a place where anyone could find it? If they're okay with that, great. If not, try a Content Management System like Moodle or Drupal. Both can be configured for public or private access to assignments, web-based journaling, chat, bulletin boards, or whatever else you'd like. Best of all, these programs are absolutely free!

Take a look at some of the student projects below. Then, head to the chat room to ask questions or share your thoughts and ideas about using technology to create audiences and conversation spaces for students.

Student Project Links

• Literature Weblog for The Secret Life of Bees -- Students responded to questions and ideas, and even interviewed the author
• Pre-Cal 20S -- A math classroom blog
• In Need of Coffee -- A classroom literature blog
• CO301D -- A bulletin for a college writing course. Some of you might have a personal connection to this one.

** Darren has some more links to student weblogs and projects here.
** My students and I brainstormed some rules for online communities. They might be helpful to you as you begin to think about what an online community of writers could look like in your classroom.