Expository Piece

Please view link to Expository piece

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2eY0wWNG0S1NUVzRjhQYzR6UVJnNGZ3aWdodU9TY0JwNXR3

Reflection on Expository piece

The expository piece on discrimination was quite beneficial and informative during my writing process. It enabled me as a writer, to be fully engaged with my device when constructing this piece. The use of technology assisted me immensely as I searched the internet for pertinent information on the topic and the ability to select the most appropriate content for the topic being explained.

As an educator I therefore, see the advantage of incorporating this exercise within the classroom experience, whether my students prefer the traditional writing process or the digital writing process in creating their expository piece. It is significant that they incorporate the steps in the writing process, which will be crucial in accomplishing this task. Also  the insurmountable joy they will experience after they have completed the task and are given the opportunity to share within their community of writers.

On the other hand by using expository within the classroom environment it encourages students to actively engage and ask questions as they search for information on the topic, students are therefore aware of components of an expository piece compared to a narrative or argumentative. As a result the exposure to these pieces broadens their reading and writing abilities   and allows them a greater appreciation to these types of writing. Lastly, this activity assisted me in identifying some of the challenges my students may have encountered.  Also  how to greatly assist them during this process, as an educator it is my job to guide my students and share my experiences as I try to build a community of independent writers.

Post three

Digital writer's notebook versus Print bound notebook 

The digital writer’s notebook was an entirely new and beneficial experience for me as a traditional writer. At the beginning of the task I was somewhat apprehensive about the journey into the era of digital writing, and using the digital notebook. Since I had absolutely no idea what it entailed and the purpose of this type of media. However my fears and uncertainty were instantly laid to rest when I realized how simple and beneficial the exercise was, since it created an avenue for me to be interactive and also share my pieces with other individuals. Therefore as a teacher I am more cognizant about the fact that changes can bring about a level of hesitation and nervousness to my students and their writing, therefore it is my job to adequately guide them through the transitional process.

Therefore what is a digital writer’s notebook, it is a technological age of the writing process where individuals are not limited to the pen and paper, but are exposed to writing in the digital age, using digital apps to make their writing easier and diversified for the reader.  As a result the  digital writer’s notebook assisted me immensely with creativity and individuality when constructing a piece, I was able to use different medias, images, sounds graphic etc to fascinate the reader and also include diverse techniques that caters to different types of learners, which will keep them engaged throughout the reading process. The digital writer’s notebook also provided the opportunity to use Google slides, Google docs and blog post which are multidimensional writing processes that can be incorporated into the wring process, however Google doc and blog post were my much loved when using the digital writing note book. For example with the commencement of this piece I was nervous as I mentioned before, why could not I use my traditional pen and paper, sigh! I thought as began typing on Google doc but to my amazement the experience was worthwhile and the fact that I could select whomever I felt worthy enough to view and read my pieces was an added bonus, therefore I decided to share my piece with a trusted confidant   who gave her honest opinion. Hmmm, that was not so bad after all I thought, this digital writing notebook is pretty cool.

As a result I can see this media being used within my classroom on a daily basis and benefiting the students who are from an age of technology, and where the constant usage  of  the traditional and print medium would not be adequate for their writing process . The digital writer’s notebook is similar to the print and bound writer’s notebook because it has to follow all the stages of the writing process such as prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. It is not an instant process but a step by step journey to completion the writer as to gather his or her thoughts and engage in art of writing which is applicable to both writing process, also both print and digital writing notebook helps the writer in situations where a student begins writing at school, and wants to finish, revise, or edit at home, it can be easily done. Lastly is helps teachers to model writing and share their writing with students on a regular basis. According to Ralph Fletcher writer’s notebook gives the writer, “space to record and explore what amazes, delights, disgusts, or appalls [him].” Therefore it is crucial that teachers allow students to actively engage in the digital writer’s notebook and create a community of learner by where it is necessary that pieces are shared.

Post two

As I begin the journey of completing a multimedia composition using the digital media, I had to rely on my first media of writing to assist me immensely through this task. Therefore, dependency on the traditional method and the use of the pen and paper to assist in the drafting process was my first mode of writing and the drafting process. However after that method was completed it was on to the digital writing and to my amazement it was not as challenging as I previously anticipated.

The use of Microsoft word and all the elements were quite useful , in the event that errors were made and structure of sentences were incomplete I was instantly notified and necessary changes were made immediately, even though it took a significant amount of time going through the editing process. It also gave me sense of relief that when the assignment was completed, I was as a result, contented with my other colleagues reading the content. Since the use of multimedia text identified and assisted in correcting my errors, it allowed a sense of relief that the piece was flawlessly written.

The digital text also afforded the opportunity to engage in media that I would not normally use on a daily basis and therefore, the old adage is true that” knowledge is indeed power.” The use of visuals, audios, podcast, hyperlinks, fonts size and power point presentations are essentials of the digital era that  assisted  significantly in the integrating of the multimedia dimension of today’s  society. Another significant component of the digital writing that assisted me vastly in my writing experience was the opportunity to research relevant information that made the writing process less complex and more manageable. With the implementation of you tube which provided visual representations as well as demonstrations and examples to target the visual learner was quite beneficial. On the other hand Google scholar and other educational journal and article were also paramount in creating a writing atmosphere which was conducive to engage in the task at hand. These multimedia approaches provided the scaffolding element that was necessary outside of the classroom without the assistance of the traditional teaching method.

As of result of engaging in this writing process as a student/ teacher, I am more cognizant of some of the advantages and disadvantages my students will stumble upon when relying on this media when writing. Also I realized the importance of incorporating this media into the classroom experience since I am teaching in an era with students who a technologically savvy and hence solely reliant on the digital period to communicate and gain relevant information. The digital wring era is therefore, a necessary media of integrating and creating an environment of independent writings and it is vital that teachers practice this approach as often as possible to target the many diverse students within their classroom setting, to achieve their fullest potential since the sole aim is creating a community of active writers.      

PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THE LINK BELOW IN YOUR SEARCH ENGINE, TO VIEW MY PERSONAL NARRATIVE 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1EQZpmvblZsxVP3fazsYnnNv47TBewuqS

Post one

The writing experience in an electronic environment versus the traditional writing process is a very complex experience. The traditional writing is an era where the teacher is seen as the sole provider on relating information, while giving specific guidelines on how the process and product of writing is to be completed. It does not cater to a comprehensive   teacher/ student relationship. In the traditional writing experience the teacher selects topics for writing that he or she deemed interesting. While on the other hand the digital writing experience is a more student friendly approach which caters to the diverse needs of the learners. The teacher is no longer the only provider of the information, but a facilitator who guides his or her   student to the task that need completion.

 As I therefore reflect upon on my journey in using both methods I cannot help in being biassed in my opinions, nevertheless I must also show appreciation to both media of the writing process.  As an educator and a writer who comes from the era of traditional writing and the traditional writing experience which is embedded into my soul. A preference of traditional writing is my main approach to writing since it creates a level of intimacy throughout my writing journey, the opportunity to write my pieces on paper whether for a professional or personal basis is indescribable. The traditional writing allows me the opportunity to literally draw a physical line through errors or even erase them at any given moment.  Also the experience of having multiple scrap paper crumbled on the floor within a pile as I try to articulate my  inner most views on paper ,and the opportunity of returning to those pile of scrap pieces, where I may have left something of purpose is beyond words . The traditional writing journey for me has provided me with a sense of comfort and an avenue to express myself freely.

 According to The Journal of Electronic Publishing, “computers, and the electronic writing   have enabled, significantly alter traditional conceptions of writing. The effects of electronic writing on traditional text call for a re-examination of the prevailing print metaphor for online writing”.

On the other hand, even though I agree with the above statement, I do acknowledge the benefits of digital writing in the 21st century and its value in a technological era. The digital writing and its methods derive from the constructivist approach whose main philosophy is the student centered classroom and experience. 

As I reflect on my experience on writing using this medium of writing, three important points are highlighted which are the digital writing created the avenue for me to share and receive information or critique of my writing instantly. The digital writing also allowed me to be selective in the type of writing that I produced  for example when constructing a text  or tweet my writing approach is most often casual and relaxed however with the use of Microsoft office and email it was often times done in a formal register. Lastly the digital writing allows the opportunity to easily identify errors since auto correct highlighted my shortcomings and inappropriate use of sentence structure.  On the contrary the drawback in engaging in digital writing is the lack of my attention span to sit in front of a computer screen and construct a writing piece, while on the other hand I could sit for hours and write a piece using the traditional method. Another drawback for me when using the digital writing is the language of the digital writer, depending on the occasion certain language is suitable but it is often time easily transferred into professional pieces as a writer or as an educator reading professional articles which often times becomes an area of great concern. 
    

 In conclusion a simple question is posed does it really matter the use of digital writing or traditional writing and the answer is yes. In an era of writing where the approach is catering to “teaching the writing and not the writer”, (Calkins 1994). It is vital that both approaches are used and as a writer I develop an appreciation for both media. It is also important that active participation and knowledge is crucial since it helps to develop me technique to becoming an independent and equipped writer in an age that is constantly integrating and changing.