How to Develop and Implement Literature Cyberlessons in the Classroom

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How to Develop and Implement Literature
Cyberlessons in the Classroom
http//www.reading.ccsu.edu/Kurkjian/Default1.html

• by Catherine Kurkjian Julia Kara-Soteriou
• Central Connecticut State University
• International Reading Association
• May 8, 2008
• Atlanta Georgia

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Focus of presentation

• . What is a Literature Cyberlesson?
• . Benefits of using a Literature Cyberlesson
• . Main sections of a Literature Cyberlesson
• . Examples of Literature Cyberlessons
• . Development of a Literature Cyberlesson
• . Difficulties? How to overcome?

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What is a Literature Cyberlesson?

• a technology-based instructional framework that
  helps students study literature over the Internet
  and/or with the use of software like Powerpoint
• makes use of Before, During, After, and Beyond
  reading comprehension strategies

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Benefits of using a Literature Cyberlesson

• Can build on and enhance the guided reading
  method framework by capitalizing on the
  multimedia nature of technology, Internet
  resources, and the motivational aspects of using
  the Internet
• Practice reading comprehension skills (before,
  during, after, and beyond reading strategies)
• Integrate literacy, literature and technology
• Study literature with more interest

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Sections of a Literature Cyberlesson

1. Introduction
2. Materials
3. Before Reading Activities
4. During Reading Activities
5. After Reading Activities
6. Beyond Reading Activities
7. Rubric
8. Credit Page

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Introduction page or slide

• It is short
• It lets the audience know what is coming and
  provides background information
• It generates interest and/or describes a
  compelling problem
• On slide 1 or on page 1 of website

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Materials page or slide

• The list of RESOURCES AND MATERIALS needed for
  the literature cyberlesson, from beginning to end
• Materials are provided along the way, as needed
• Examples graphic organizers, other handouts,
  pencil, book title, computer with Internet access
• Slide 2 or different page on website

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Before Reading Activities page or slide

• They are feasible
• They build background knowledge
• They generate interest in the book
• They help the readers to make predictions
• They set the purpose for reading
• They incorporate the use of the Internet
• How many activities? 1-2

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Before Reading Activities

• Examples websites that could be used to
• Activate background knowledge
• Build background knowledge
• Help students use clues available in the text
  such as titles, cover, illustrations to create a
  purpose and interest in reading

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During Reading Activities slide or page

• They support the readers move through the text
  by helping them keep track of events and/or
  generating and confirming predictions
• The activities focus on the content of the book
  as well as specific literacy skills
• How many?
• It depends on the length of the book and the
  study of the book.
• Include both Internet activities and handouts
  that do not require the use of the Internet

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During Reading Activities

• Examples
• Monitor predictions
• Answer questions
• Generate hypotheses
• Track big ideas throughout the text
• Use of websites as well as handouts and other
  activities that do not require the use of the
  Internet

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After Reading Activities slide or page

• They should encourage the readers to respond to,
  revisit and/or rethink about the text

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After Reading Activities

• Examples students can
• revisit the text to think more deeply about it
• use background knowledge and the text to make
  inferences and connections among ideas in the
  text
• relive an important event
• put themselves in the shoes of a character
• consider an important idea
• evaluate the text by some criteria

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Beyond Reading Activitiesslide or page

• They should help the readers extend beyond the
  text by making connections to other related texts
• They should also help provide more background
  information to an aspect of the book that has not
  been elaborated (i.e., information about the
  setting, time frame etc.)

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Beyond Reading Activities

• Examples
• Connections between the text and other related
  texts such as books, movies, music, and events.
• Provide more background information to an aspect
  of the book that has not been elaborated (i.e.,
  information about the setting, time frame etc.)

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The Rubric slide or page

• The rubric identifies what the reader has to do
  and to what degree in order to complete the
  Literature Cyberlesson successfully
• The rubric helps the reader to assess if tasks
  were completed satisfactorily

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Credit page slide or webpage

• The last page of the literature cyberlesson
• Cites Internet resources and graphics and other
  references where applicable
• Can make use of Cyberlesson Template

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Literature Cyberlesson An example

• Go to Internet Project Cyberlesson at
  http//www.reading.ccsu.edu/kurkjian/Internet20Pr
  oject/new_page_1.htm
• Selection of literature cyberlessons developed by
  teachers PreK-12
• One example Grade 1

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• How can I develop a
• Literature Cyberlesson
• for my classroom?
• Use of Literature Cyberlesson Template

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Getting ready to develop the Literature
Cyberlesson

• Choose a familiar book
• If longer book, choose one you taught in the past
  
• Collect activities you used in the past
• Think how the Literature Cyberlesson will fit
  into your curriculum (and not vice versa)

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Cyberlesson, Curriculum and Scheduling

• Draw up a plan for each days lesson
• What are your instructional objectives?
• What are the literacy needs of your students?
• What are the technology skills of your students?
• How long should each lesson last?
• How long should the Literature Cyberlesson last?
• What activities will motivate your students?

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Development of the Cyberlesson

• BEFORE, DURING, AFTER, and BEYOND reading
  activities
• How many in each group?
• What type of activities?
• Which of the activities I used in the past can I
  use now? Which can I modify and use?
• How many Internet-based activities?
• Only Internet? Paper pencil activities?

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Before Using the Cyberlesson

• Do you have all the materials you will need?
• Access to technology for teacher and students?
• Are your students on board? Are they motivated to
  start?

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Implementing the Cyberlesson

• Classroom and/or computer lab
• Groups and/or whole class
• Use of SmartBoard
• Reading from the book while having access to a
  computer for the activities
• Use of handouts/whiteboard to complete
  assignments

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One more example

• A Literature Cyberlesson
• on the novel
• Hatchet
• by Gary Paulson
• Used in a 7th grade class

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Mary Jeans objectives

• To motivate reluctant readers
• To develop vocabulary knowledge
• To develop reading comprehension skills
• To integrate literacy and technology
• To study and enjoy the novel Hatchet

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Vocabulary and comprehension

• Internet-based activities
• Worksheets
• Dictionary, as needed
• Journal writing
• Centers

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Mary Jeans students responses

• Can we do this again?
• Are we going to do this from now on?

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Possible Roadblocks

• Outdated web sites or dead links
• Younger students lack of technology skills
• Schools Internet safety procedures - restriction
  to certain web sites
• Old technologies in schools
• Lack of enough computers in the classrooms

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Overcoming Roadblocks

• Younger students lack of technology skills
• Prepare the computers/web sites ahead of time
• One-on-one assistance
• Pair the students
• Schools Internet safety procedures - restriction
  to certain web sites
• Talk to the school officials ahead of time
• Modify the Literature Cyberlesson
• Printouts from restricted web sites

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Overcoming Roadblocks

• Old technologies in schools
• Use laptop and LCD projector for the whole class
• Lack of enough computers in the classrooms
• Use the computer lab
• Use laptop and LCD Projector in the main
  classroom
• Students in groups

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• Start slowly
• One Literature Cyberlesson
• AND
• on a familiar book