Writing Across State Lines Using Technology

Through the magic of technology and good old fashioned pen to paper, students and teachers alike are learning to improve their writing. Using computers, snail mail, and videoconferencing, two middle school teachers paired up similar aged peers, grades 7 and 8, from another state; first, as pen pals and then, as writer workshop peers.

AN OVERVIEW

The Why!
The purpose of this project is to

• provide students with an authentic writing experience.
• get them engaged in the writing process.
• help students discover things about themselves as well as about other people and areas of the country.
• enjoy plenty of teachable moments along the way.

The Concept!
Their idea is to use technology in a way that will get students writing and enjoying it. "We want to use the technology to teach real writing, not as a tool to drill. Through videoconferencing students are able to communicate with students from other schools and share their writing; it is an authentic writing experience with an audience of peers," says Matt.

The Process!

• Find a teacher with whom you can collaborate
• Work out a scheduled time to meet.
• Build relationships between students by pairing them to be pen pals.
• Have them exchange hand written letters.
• Use videoconferencing to connect both classes
• Meet for the first time with an ice breaker activity e.g. quiz bowl about your state, region, community, etc.
• Create ongoing connections which include activities to engage different learning styles.
• Ex. Authors chair, revision workshop, discussions, book talks, skits, speeches, debates, literature circles, book club, poetry slam, etc.

THE COLLABORATION
In 2006 after attending a basic training on using video conferencing, Matt Vawter, Indiana, came up with the idea for this project. He posted it in the Collaboration Center on www.cilc.org and had a lot of teachers from all over the United States respond. Many were interested at first, but were unable to commit to working out all of the many conflicts along the way. Then he met Kiersten Hullander, Wisconsin, who has been as excited about this project as he has from the beginning and has hung in there with him all the way, offering her insights and expertise in many areas. Their ongoing project, which began in 2007, starts at the beginning of each school year and has continued for the last two and one half years.

Issues and Challenges	Matt says, "The biggest issue for us has been scheduling. We are in different time zones an hour apart. Our schools are also on different schedules throughout the day. To accommodate these challenges, we have met during lunch and homeroom and come in an hour early. If you really want to do this and get creative, you will find a way to make it happen."
Student Learning	This project has been a very important because it has shown students the importance of authentic writing. Our students are writing more than they normally would. They get extremely excited when their letters arrive and can not wait to write their pen pals back.

Outcomes for Matt and Kiersten
"This project has taught us about teaching and learning with technology in the classroom.

• We witnessed students that normally would not turn in a scrap of writing turning in letters to their pen pals. In fact, we have students from the first group that are still writing and emailing their pen pals!
• We watched students give up social time to eat lunch in the classroom in order to accommodate our conferencing schedule. This year Mrs. Hullander’s students are coming in to school an hour early to meet with their pen pals to accommodate the time zone conflict.
• We have discovered that many students value the opinions of peers even more than those of parents and teachers.
• This entire project has been a great "aha" moment for both of us. We have let the students and the project take us where it will. We became open to new ideas, learned what collaboration is all about, and let the writing take us to new levels.
• While we just wanted students to read their writing to each other, we learned a lot more.
• With our level of students, relationships must be built first.
• Students need practice with the equipment before the first actual conference. We made a test call where students were able to "ooh" and "aah" during their actual first connection allowing us to answer any of their burning questions about the technical aspects. Then they didn’t need to interrupt the actual sessions between classes with them. It also allowed those students who want to show off to get it out of their system.
• A protocol of some kind helps everybody to stay organized and on the same page.
• Initially students can’t wait to conference, but they get very nervous when it actually happens and usually freeze. Thus, it helps to put students into groups and call on groups for questions and answers."

Matt and Kiersten have built a professional relationship and a friendship through their work together. They have learned a great deal about each other and themselves as teachers. This past summer (2008), for the first time, they were able to meet in person when they presented their work at two separate conferences: Indiana University Southeast Writing Conference in June 2008 and the SDE Conference on Differentiated Instruction in Columbus, Ohio in July of 2008.

The Future
Matt and Kiersten plan to continue their project and are excited about trying a couple of new things this year.

• Their students are going to work collaboratively to publish an anthology of their writings.
• The teachers plan to switch schools for a week. Kiersten is going to teach Matt’s class, and he is going to teach hers; she will stay with his family and he will stay with hers. They will videoconference during this week to see how things are going.
• They also plan to present at more conferences and have discussed writing a book about their project!

CILC thanks Matt and Kiersten for sharing their story. We hope that it sparks some creativity and desire to expand your horizons!

Contact Information
Kiersten Hullander
Cumberland Middle School
Cumberland, WI

Matt Vawter
Jennings County Middle School
North Vernon, IN