A Western Massachusetts Writing Project Gathering

Pop Culture and the Common Core

Technology,

Western Massachusetts Writing Project believes

that our cultural conceptions of literacy are changing as a result of the outgrowth of technology in the lives of young people. Texting, blogging, tweeting, social networking, gaming and other elements of the daily use of media and technology in the lives of students and teachers make for a rich environment in which writing has never been more central to the ways we communicate. WMWP teachers explore, use and innovate with technology as a mean for enhancing learning with writing and composition at the center of that inquiry.

Digital Learning Day

February 1, 2012: A call to try something new and innovate!

Why Pop Culture?

Motivated learners Connections to life outside of
school

Literacy all around Opportunity for media awareness Opportunity for transforming
experiences

Defining Modern Pop Culture

Youtube; online video sites Facebook; social networking sites MMOG (Massive Multiplayer Online
Gaming systems)

Mobile Device Apps Movies and Television Music Books and Graphic Novels

Teen Use of Digital Media

-- From Pew Internet and American Life Project

Teen Use of Digital Devices

-- From Pew Internet and American Life Project

Paying Attention to Our Students

The story of The story of
J and Minecraft N and Anime

The New Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks

Critical thinking skills Media literacy skills Developing voice Persuasive/argumentative writing Authentic publishing Use of technology for composing Connecting literacy to science,

social studies and the content areas

Three Breakout Sessions

Social Networking with Edmodo
Creating online writing spaces

Digital Storytelling with Voicethread

and Animoto Composing with multimedia

Video Game Design with Gamestar

Mechanic Connecting gaming to writing and science

But first .
A keynote presentation from

The Video Vanguard Project