About WriteSite

With nearly 100% of public schools (and 93% of classrooms) connected to the Internet, strategies for teaching writing are changing. Web-based WriteSite, a writing management system currently hosted by OETC (Organization for Educational Technology & Curriculum), provides teachers and authors easy access to their writing from anywhere—via the Internet.

Educators using the "process approach" to writing (prewriting, drafting, responding, revising, editing, publishing) quickly learn how efficient the Internet is as a tool for integrating instruction and technology. Networked databases now host student writing, and teacher-designed lookups makes the retrieval of that writing a snap. Due to the nature of the Internet, WriteSite provides a forum to post and respond to writing, both within classrooms and around the globe. Spanish, Italian, and French teachers attest to the adaptability of online writing and responding in foreign language, ESL, and bilingual classrooms.

In addition to supporting a writing curriculum, WriteSites are easily adapted to host a myriad of projects that are limited only by the imagination of creative teachers. For example, recent projects include a middle school literature discussion group, a password-protected faculty discussion forum for a local elementary school, asynchronous college-level thematic response forums, and a specialized WriteSite that has been modified to support a community education course in conversational Italian.

Continue reading "About WriteSite" »

Project Rationale

While computers have supported student writing for many years, data storage has traditionally been on floppy disks (remember those), removable flash drives, or school servers. In addition, peer-review activities have remained relatively unaffected by technology. With nearly 100% of public schools (and 93% of classrooms) connected to the Internet, strategies for teaching writing are changing.

Web-based WriteSite, a password-protected writing management system currently hosted by OETC (The Organization for Educational Technology & Curriculum), provides authors easy access to their writing from anywhere—via the Internet. Student drafts, revisions, and portfolios are conveniently stored on and accessed from a database located on the their server and are backed-up nightly. All writing and authors are easily searchable for generating work samples and/or reviewing during parent conferences.

From a teacher's perspective, student access to writing terminals is still not 1:1, but nationally, the number has dropped considerably. The current student-to-computer ratio in most schools is around 4:1. With WriteSite, students may participate in the writing process or discussions from any computer with an Internet connection: on a classroom computer, from a support teacher or administrator’s desk, from laptops on wireless networks, on any machine in a school's computer lab or school library, at the public library, at home or a friend's house, or from a partnered classroom or school, regardless of geographical location. Student authors have marveled at the opportunity for grandparents to read (and respond to) their writing from out of state—thanks to the Internet!

Continue reading "Project Rationale" »

WriteSite_Intro

           
This is a short (00'26) introduction for the Writing with WriteSite "Welcome" screen encoded "for dial-up users (22 kHz, mono) and 180 pixels wide, Full Screen (4:3 aspect ratio) and 15 fps

This is a short (00'26) introduction for the Writing with WriteSite "Welcome" screen encoded "for dial-up users (22 kHz, mono) and 180 pixels wide, Full Screen (4:3 aspect ratio) and 15 fps

Welcome to WriteSite ~ Workshop Agenda

Workshop Objectives

  • Increase teacher knowledge and skill related to writing instruction
  • Increase the integration of writing instruction across the curriculum
  • Increase the use of technology to support the teaching and learning of writing
  • Increase the sense of community and collective participation in the school’s writing program

Logging into WriteSite (the "Demo" version's Homepage)

In the the following activity, you'll be guided through the simple task of logging into WriteSite as a Student of the Instructor, Nick Viani.

Click on the link to the "ITSC" WriteSite (it will open in a new window) and we'll complete Project 1 together.

ws.oetc.org/cgi-bin/i8_itsc

Project 1: FreeWriting (a pre-writing activity)Login1

  1. Click the "login" button in the upper-right corner of the Navigation bar
  2. Please Select the Instructor (Nick Viani) and click Submit
  3. Login as a student (Gooper ~ password: gooper)
  4. Click on "Add to Discussion" next to Freewriting: Firsts (under the "Status" heading )
  5. Read the prompt (beneath the text frame) and add to the discussion (in the text frame)
  6. Click Submit when finished (let's take 5 minutes)

To view contributions to Project 1 (Freewriting: Firsts),

  • Click "My Projects" (linked at the top of every screen)
  • Click on "Writing" next to FreeWriting: Firsts

WriteSite's Administrative FeaturesLogin2

In this activity, you'll log in as Nick Viani (the Instructor), and add yourself as a "User." We'll do this together so you're comfortable with your first WriteSite "Administrative" experience.

  1. Log OUT as a student (upper-right corner in the top navigation bar) and then click "login"
  2. Select Instructor > Nick Viani
  3. Login as the INSTRUCTOR, Nick Viani (the name ABOVE the line of dashes) (password: viani)
  4. Create New User (add yourself as firstname lastname)Createuser
  5. Password: (your choice - must be at least 5 characters)
  6. Confirm password by entering it again and click "Submit"
  7. Click My Projects (you're returned to the Instructor's Project Administration Page)
  8. Check to make sure YOUR name is listed among the users
  9. Logout as instructor
  10. Login as you, the newest addition to Nick Viani's workshop (refer to Project 1 for a refresher)

Note: Nick will demonstrate WriteSite's ability to determine which students see what.

Don't ask questions you can look up.
— Marco Torres, '08 ITSC Keynote Address

Unfortunately, teachers rarely ask questions to which they do not believe they know the answer. Sort of sad, really. Diminishing to the student; boring for the teacher.
— Doug Johnson "Plagiarism-Proofing Assignments" (Phi Delta Kappan, March 2004)

Project 2: WriteSite's Discussion Feature (and its cousin, the blog)

In this activity, users will contribute to a discussion that will then be shared with others. 

  1. Click on My Projects (located at the top of every screen)
  2. Click on "Add to Discussion" next to Discussing a Topic
  3. Read the prompt and contribute to the discussion. As in Project 1, your thoughts will be shared with all users assigned to the project (everybody in this room)

To view contributions,

  • Click on My Projects (linked at the top of every screen)
  • Click on "Writing" next to Discussing a Topic

A Response Structure

How can I improve if I don't know what you're talking about?
— David Pogue, '07 ITSC Keynote Address

The response structure linked below has been successfully used in many, many classrooms.

cate.blogs.com/writesite_lessons/response_structure

Here's an opportunity to practice the response structure in a group activity:

cate.blogs.com/writesite_lessons/2007/01/developing_poli.html

Project 3: Practice Responding Online Using WriteSite

This activity uses WriteSite's "Process Writing" feature. Students will read and respond to another student's writing using the response structure I noticed, I wondered, what if...?

  1. Click on My Projects
  2. Click on "Contributors" next to Practice Responding
  3. Click on Rough Draft next to Gooper Viani
  4. After reading the piece, click on "Respond to this Writing" and follow the online instructions

To view responses to Gooper's draft (Gooper would do this to read your feedback),

  1. Click on My Projects
  2. Click on "Contributors" next to Practice Responding
  3. Click on "Rough Draft" next to Gooper's name and read the responses digested beneath his piece

Imagine your students (critically) reading and responding to classmates' drafts and revising their drafts before you even see them!


Continue reading "Welcome to WriteSite ~ Workshop Agenda" »

3-Hr. WriteSite 4.0 Agenda

WS_masthead_cropped    

Workshop Objectives

  • Use WriteSite, an online writing management tool, to contribute to and read other contributions of an online discussion
  • Learn a classroom-tested response structure that provides responders with a method to communicate with others in a meaningful and respectful manner
  • Practice the response structure in a guided practice model
  • Apply the response structure to an author's rough draft
  • Apply the WriteSite as an Instructor/Teacher
  • Use a scoring guide to review, evaluate, and revise writing for meaning and clarity
  • Use WriteSite to generate a reports, anthology, and student work samples


Logging into WriteSite 4.0  

In the the following activity, you'll be guided through the simple task of logging into WriteSite as a student of the Instructor, Nick Viani.

Click on the following link to the workshop's WriteSite (it will open in a new window) and we'll complete Project 1 together.

itsc.eduportals.org/writesite


Project 1: Fast Writing (a pre-prewriting activity)

Fast writing is a short writing activity where you clear out the cobwebs in your subconscious and tap into your creativity. In order to silence the inner editor lurking in there, you're discouraged from any in-text editing, as frustrating as it may seem.

The result may be nonsense—but that's OK. We're writing fast here, and if the result doesn't make sense now, no problem. (It may trigger some ideas that Loginmerit revisiting later).  We'll spend 3-4 minutes using WriteSite's Freewriter tool (a handy space to also keep notes & journals, and practice your keyboarding skills.)

  1. Click the word "login" in the upper-right corner
  2. Enter your username and password and click "Login"
  3. Click on "Freewriter" at the top of the screen and a mini word-processor will open
  4. Let your mind do the thinkin' while your fingers do the plinkin'—click "Save" when requested


Project 2: FreeWriting (a prewriting activity) 

  1. Home_buttonsClick "Home" (there are two to select from—see the illustration)
  2. Click "Freewriting: Firsts" (under the "Title" heading )
  3. The next screen features a text frame. Check the box next to "Show Project Details" to learn about Peter Elbow and the value of freewriting (you may hide the Project Details by unchecking the box)
  4. Click in the text frame to begin contributing to the project (your writing will be shared by everyone assigned to the project)
  5. Click "Submit" when finished and you're greeted with a friendly message

To view contributions to Project 2: Freewriting: Firsts, scroll down and read away (they're digested, one after the other, and may be sorted by clicking the titles (e.g. "Participants") in the heading.

WriteSite's Administrative Features

In this activity, you'll log in as Nick Viani (the Instructor), and add yourself as a "User" in several of his projects. Only Administrators may actually add users to the WriteSite database—once in the system, instructors need to add users to their projects.

  1. Click "Logout" in the upper-right corner (logging you out as a user/student)
  2. Click "Login" and enter the following: User Name: nickv ~ Password: gooper
  3. Click "Instructor" in the top navigation bar
  4. Click "My Projects" and then click on "Workshop Project 3: The Magic of Technology"
  5. Scroll to the bottom of the "Edit Project" screen, check the box in front of your name, then click "Save"
  6. Repeat steps 3-5 for the 2 additional projects:

"Workshop Project 4: Responding to a Narrative"
"Workshop Project 5: Showing Writing ~ Imaginary Narrative"

  1. After adding yourself to the 3 projects, click "logout" (as Nick Viani the Instructor)
  2. Login as yourself, and verify that you're enrolled in the project "Workshop Project 3: The Magic of Technology"

Project 3: WriteSite's Discussion Feature (and its distant cousin, the blog)Show_picture_detail

In this activity, users will contribute to a discussion dealing with Instructional Technology

  1. Click on the project titled "The Magic of Technology"
  2. Click the box "Show Project Details"
  3. To enter text, click in the text frame and take 5 minutes to contribute to the discussion. Click "Submit" when you're finished
  4. View the contributions of your colleagues by scrolling down the screen

Break ~ Break ~ Break~ Break ~ Break ~ Break~ Break ~ Break ~ Break

A Response Structure

How can I improve if I don't know what you're talking about?
— David Pogue, '07 ITSC Keynote Address

The response structure linked below has been successfully used in many, many classrooms.

cate.blogs.com/writesite_lessons/response_structure

Here's an opportunity to practice the response structure in a group activity:

cate.blogs.com/writesite_lessons/2007/01/developing_poli.html

Project 4: Responding to a Narrative

This activity introduces WriteSite's "Process Writing" component. Users will read and respond to another student's writing using the response structure I noticed, I wondered, what if...?

  1. Click the "Home" iconRough_draft
  2. Click on the title of the project "Responding to a Narrative"
  3. Click "Rough Draft" next to the participant, Gooper Viani, and scroll down to the text frame where you will respond
  4. Click "Show Project Details" in the project "Overview" so you're familiar with the scoring criteria Gooper considered when drafting his piece
  5. After reading Gooper's writing, scroll beneath his draft and respond to it using the response structure "I noticed, I wondered, what if...?"  Please refer to the scoring criteria to focus your response
  6. When you click "Post Response," simply scroll down beneath Gooper's writing to view all responses to his piece

Students may critically read and respond to classmates' drafts before you even see them!


Continue reading "3-Hr. WriteSite 4.0 Agenda" »

1-Hr. WriteSite 4.0 Agenda

WS_masthead_cropped    

Workshop Objectives

  • Use WriteSite, an online writing management tool, to contribute to and read other contributions of an online discussion
  • Learn and practice a classroom-tested response structure that provides responders with a method to communicate with others in a meaningful and respectful manner
  • Apply the response structure to an author's rough draft
  • Use WriteSite to generate a reports, anthology, and student work samples

Logging into WriteSite 4.0  

In the the following activity, you'll be guided through the simple task of logging into WriteSite as a student of the Instructor, Nick Viani.

Click on the following link to the workshop's WriteSite (it will open in a new window) and we'll complete Project 1 together.

itsc.eduportals.org/writesite

Project 1: FreeWriting (Introducing the FreeWriting tool)

"Freewriting is a way to break the habit of trying to write and edit at the same time."
— Peter Elbow

In this project, you will make a list of important “firsts” in your life.

To keep the flow going (and illustrate “block paragraphing”), please begin each line with the phrase "I remember ..." and tap the Return/Enter key.

For example:
I remember my introduction to Elvis Presley in 6th grade. Sandra Seltzer walked into the classroom with a pink and black lunch box with "Elvis the Pelvis" embossed on it. (tap "Enter" here)

I remember the first time we went fishing...

We'll spend 3-4 minutes using WriteSite's FreeWriter tool (a handy Loginspace to also keep notes & journals, and practice your keyboarding skills.)

  1. Click the word "login" in the upper-right corner
  2. Enter your username and password and click "Login"
  3. Click on "Freewriter" at the top of the screen and a mini word-processor will open
  4. We're going to use this text in the next project, so highlight and copy your "firsts"


Project 2: WriteSite's Discussion Module

  1. Home_buttonsClick "Home" (there are two to select from—see the illustration)
  2. Click "Freewriting: Firsts" (under the "Title" heading )
  3. The next screen features a text frame. Check/uncheck the box next to "Show/Hide Project Details" to learn about Peter Elbow and the value of freewriting
  4. Click in the text frame and paste the FreeWriter text you typed in Project 1 (your writing will be shared by everyone assigned to the project)
  5. Click "Submit" when finished and you're greeted with a friendly message

To view contributions to Project 2: Freewriting: Firsts, scroll down and read away. They're digested, one after the other, and may be sorted by clicking the titles (e.g. "Participants") in the heading.

A Response Structure

How can I improve if I don't know what you're talking about?
— David Pogue, '07 ITSC Keynote Address

The response structure linked below has been successfully used in many, many classrooms.

cate.blogs.com/writesite_lessons/response_structure

Here's an opportunity to practice the response structure in a group activity:

cate.blogs.com/writesite_lessons/2007/01/developing_poli.html

Project 3: Responding to a Narrative (Introducing the Process Writing Module)

This activity introduces WriteSite's "Process Writing" component. Users will read and respond to another student's writing using the response structure I noticed, I wondered, what if...?

  1. Click the "Home" iconRough_draft
  2. Click on the title of the project "Responding to a Narrative"
  3. Click "Rough Draft" next to the participant, Gooper Viani, and scroll down to the text frame where you will respond
  4. Click "Show Project Details" in the project "Overview" so you're familiar with the scoring criteria Gooper considered when drafting his piece
  5. After reading Gooper's writing, scroll beneath his draft and respond to it using the response structure "I noticed, I wondered, what if...?"
  6. After you click "Post Response," simply scroll down beneath Gooper's writing to view all responses to his piece

Students may critically read and respond to classmates' drafts before you even see them!


Getting Around In WriteSite

WriteSite 4.0 has plenty of features and, time permitting, we'll examine some of the more powerful ones:

  • Setting up (and editing) projects
  • Searching for writing and responses
  • Generating writing portfolios / anthologies
  • Freewriter as a private journal and note-taking tool (i.e. adding hot links)
  • Using special characters (i.e. ¿Cómo estás?)
  • Switching password, language preference, and appearance
  • Help screens

Links to Materials Offered in This Workshop

Workshop Agenda: Writing With WriteSite
cate.blogs.com/writesite/2009/02/1hr-writesite-40-agenda.html

Writing Resources
http://cate.blogs.com/writesite_resources/

Literature Discussion Circles
http://www.viani.us/writesite/handouts/litcircle.pdf
This article will download to your computer and uses Adobe Reader (free) to open it.

Practice Responding (practice project template)
http://www.viani.us/writesite/handouts/wordfiles/2_Practice_responding.doc

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