Digital Choices--Producers over Consumers

As my students and I have become more comfortable with our increased access to technology this year, I am looking to offer them more opportunities to "show what they know" with digital products.  The concern I have with the implementation of the computers into the classroom is that I don't want to become complacent and end up producing digital consumers rather than digital producers.

I have worked hard this year to present information to my students in many formats so that they can have examples of ways that they can share their information with me.

Last week was a great step towards success!  Each week, my students are given a basic writing assignment to complete before they begin their independent writing in Daily 5.  These take a variety of formats, and I often try to give them options.  Last week, they were given the topic of "What would you do with an extra day?"  They had a number of things to consider, but then they could create a product of their choice: poem, story, list, digital product....

They did a nice job really thinking about this possibility.  However, what pleased me more, is that I had a number of Powerpoints created for this assignment, some Vokis created, and nearly everyone who decided to do a story, poem, or list,  typed it up.  Finally, the best part, they all, no matter what the project, submitted these assignments to me digitally through Classconnect!  These are 8 and 9 year olds!  I am so proud of what they can do!

I will continue to work to make our assignments and projects capable of being digital so that kids can use some of the great creative sites out there.  It is empowering for them to have choice in their assignments, and it is wonderful for me to be able to receive assignments easily through Classconnect!