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Creating a Virtual Community of Practice through Paths to Literacy

Creating a Virtual Community of Practice through Paths to Literacy. Cyral Miller, TSBVI Charlotte Cushman, Perkins School for the Blind June 2014. Today’s Objectives.

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Creating a Virtual Community of Practice through Paths to Literacy

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  1. Creating a Virtual Community of Practice through Paths to Literacy Cyral Miller, TSBVI Charlotte Cushman, Perkins School for the Blind June 2014

  2. Today’s Objectives • To discover educational strategies, resources, and technologies by exploring the social media platforms and interactive features • To examine posts related to Assistive Technology • To discuss ways in which the Virtual Community of Practice supports teachers and families in literacy activities

  3. What is Paths to Literacy? • A community of practice that is dynamic • A symposium or think tank that gives people access to ideas and conversations about literacy • A home to multiple platforms, including an interactive website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter

  4. Content Areas The site is divided into 12 content areas: • General Literacy • Learning Media Assessment • Emergent Literacy • Multiple Disabilities • Braille • Struggling Readers • Print • Writing • Dual Media • English Language Learners • Auditory Strategies • Math Literacy

  5. Most Popular Features of the Site • Blogs • Strategies • Resources • Technology • Research • Instructional Guidelines

  6. AT and Paths to Literacy Technology tab: • Includes apps • Writing AT goals • Screen readers • 3-D printing • Tools for teachers

  7. Interactive Possibilities of Site • Subscriptions • Blogs • Conversations/comments

  8. Value of Registering on the Site • Email notifications of blog posts • Subscribe to learn when posts are made in different areas • Make comments, ask questions • Submit a post and earn continuing education credit!

  9. Dear Paths • http://www.pathstoliteracy.org/dear-paths • Sample questions include: • Parent of child with CVI looking for suggestions • How can I teach my deafblind son about the passage of time? • Which video games are accessible? • I need ideas about teaching the concept of “wide”. • Where can I find out about the methodology of teaching braille?

  10. Social Media

  11. What is a “Community of Practice”? “Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.” -- Etienne Wenger (2006), Cognitive Anthropologisthttp://www.ewenger.com/theory/

  12. Who is in our community? Note that these numbers are old and we now have closer to 5,000 people registered across all platforms.

  13. Non-Registered Users • 131,000+ unique visitors to the site since launch in April 2012 More than 500,000 page views during that time

  14. International Community • Visitors from 196 countries • Spanish-language posts • Cross-cultural content • Guest bloggers from UK, Australia, Poland, Canada

  15. Finding the Community We need to go to where the discussions are happening: • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest • Comments on posts on website • Dear Paths

  16. Levels of Participation From: http://wenger-trayner.com/resources/slide-forms-of-participation/

  17. TVIs and CoPs Yue-Ting (Ting) Siu, TVI Doctoral Candidate at UC Berkeley and SF State University Research areas: TVIs use of technology, CoPs, teacher training yueting.siu@gmail.com www.facebook.com/yuetingsiu twitter: @TVI_ting

  18. Technology Use: 2000-2010 Classroom teachers TVIs Students * (Abner & Lahm, 2002; Edwards & Lewis, 1998; Gray, L., Thomas, N., and Lewis, L., 2010; Kapperman et al., 2002; Kelly, 2009, 2011; U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES, 2000)

  19. Differentiatingfor TVIs Student Teacher Context • TVIs are the gatekeeper • Different professional learning communities • Content knowledge is not enough • Need equal and supplementary emphasis on developing professional networks: • * RESOURCES *

  20. Sample AT Posts • Comparing Braille Notetakers with iOS Devices • Academic Students Using AT by Sharon Nichols • Recommended Apps by Linda Mamer

  21. More AT Blog Posts! • iPads by Tara Mason • Communication by Megan Mogan • Students with Multiple Disabilities by Faye Gonzalez

  22. What would you like to see from us?

  23. Something for everyone! • Student-Made IEP Book • Making Toast: Conversation Boxes • O & M Literacy: “Routes “Journals • Test Down and Teach Up: Task Analysis of a Duck • Flying Fingers: Fluency Instruction for Beginning Braille Readers • Toy Bars and Literacy • Using the Preferred Learning Medium to Design a Communication System • Follow-up Q & Afrom above • Montessori Activities to Promote Pre-Literacy Skills for Tactual Learners

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