MISD Digital Strategies II

TEACHING DIGITAL STRATEGIES II: REVISING AND COMMENTING

(2016 Workshop Activities Cont.)

Activity:  Modes of Response

Take a few minutes and respond to the first few pages of a student draft, first on the hard copy and then on the Google doc version. What, if any, difference does the mode of response make?

Digital strategies for drafting/collaboration

Start with “Fostering Student Collaboration with Google Docs.

Check out Carrie’s comments on a collaborative draft (for Intermediate Composition) submitted in a Google doc or these collaborative annotations (for Writing for Publication).

Activity: Collaborative Writing Practice with Google Docs

  1. In teams, create a new Google doc for your team (rename it with your team name).
  2. Then choose one of the assignment prompts to revise as a team and copy and paste it into the  team Google doc. Share the Google doc with your team member. (Team members should open the document.)
  3. Individually, respond to the writing prompt draft using the comment feature (be sure to hit “Enter” to see the comment), noting the things you like and things you want to change. (You’ll see the comments each other is making as you work.)
  4. Then take turns working collaboratively revising the prompt.

What would happen if you put the pen down and recorded your writing feedback?

Today we’re looking at a sample student paper to understand commenting functions in Google Drive. For a quick slideshow on developing written feedback for college students, take a gander at Jackie’s slide deck and get familiar with these cool tools.

Annotation Tools:

Editing Tools

Try adding a comment or two to the sample paper by clicking here.


Audio Comments

Listen to Jackie’s short audiocast on providing audio feedback to students.

Listen to feedback in response to the sample student paper.

Audio Comment Tools:

Voice Memos for Apple, Cogi Notes & Voice Recorder for Android/ Google Play, Audacity, Kaizena Shortcut, or Speech Recognition

The NMWS has a wealth of info on audio technology. Here are a few quick tips:

Screen Shot 2016-08-07 at 5.23.24 PM
  • Choose a quiet interview location. 
  • Be aware of clocks, air-conditioners, traffic, wind, etc.
  • Always wear headphones when recording (what you hear through your headphones is what you’ll hear on your finished recording).
  • Test the equipment before starting interview.
  • Keep the mic close (about 7 inches away).
  • Be careful of mic noise (mic handling noise).
  • Avoid popping by angling mic slightly away from mouth.

Take It A Step Further

Read more about the effectiveness of audio comments according to Sara Bauer, Co-director of The National Writing Project at Rutgers University in 2011.

Ask students to listen to their feedback, to respond by recording their assessment of your comments and any questions, or to respond to other students’ papers as a way of drafting.

Question: How do different modes affect how teachers can respond? How students might experience the comments?