Penn Literacy Network

Early Childhood Seminars | Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Seminars
Math Seminars | Whole-School Reform Efforts | Online Courses

PLN1: Forming & Reforming Reading/Writing/Talking Across the Curriculum, Pre-K to 4 (EDCE533)
Participants investigate the PLN Frameworks of The Five Reading/Writing/Talking Processes and The Four Lenses of Learning, apply these concepts and frameworks to their classroom materials and content texts/lessons, and make adaptations based on their own contexts and curriculum frameworks. Participants also engage in learning experiences that are rich in problem-solving, critical thinking, and logical reasoning. Educators learn how to engage students in transacting with text (comprehension), composing text, extending reading and writing through a workshop format, investigating language, and learning to learn activities that encourage students to metacognitively reflect on their own learning. Participants are asked to bring classroom curriculum materials and content texts to the course for practical applications of course concepts and strategies.

PLN1: Critical Reading and Writing in Support of Learning, 5–12 (EDCE533)
A focus for secondary school teachers (MS and HS) is increasing students’ active reading and writing about content area texts. PLN 1 Secondary offers practical strategies and applications that help establish a literate classroom environment in support of learning that links subject areas, with a focus on depth of learning. Teachers, specialists, and administrators learn approaches to create learning experiences that are rich in problem-solving, critical thinking, and logical reasoning based on The Five Reading/Writing/Talking Processes and The Four Lenses of Learning.

PLN 5: Informational Reading and Writing (K-8): Building World Knowledge and Reading/Writing with a Disciplinary Stance (EDCE611)
In this seminar, participants use PLN frameworks to explore the genre of non-fiction and they discuss strategies to increase opportunities for students to read and write using informational texts. Areas of focus include: investigating features of informational texts and the relationship between fiction and non-fiction, using textbooks and primary source materials, and building and assessing student engagement with text through note-making, response-building, and research writing.

Course topics include: The Four Lenses of Learning, The Five Reading/Writing/Talking Processes, Building World Knowledge, Reading and Writing with a Disciplinary Stance, building engagement with high quality literature across the curriculum, learning the craft of non-fiction authors' texts and embedding key language, developing sentence and paragraph knowledge, creating/enhancing composing structures in the classroom and meta-cognitive awareness.

The PLN 5 course also includes ongoing journals integrating professional readings from the PLN 5 online bulk pack and classroom strategy try outs, a final project 3-5 page essay (“Pulling It All Together”) that integrates course experiences and insights into a comprehensive paper that focuses on the implications of the course. A separate assignment is an Independent, Job Embedded Write Up that links course concepts and strategies into a practical school based plan that will be implemented in your school and/or classroom between classes 2-4. Some options include: two study groups with colleagues and school leaders, two presentations with colleagues and school leaders about PLN 5 concepts and strategies, two classroom demonstrations and two follow up discussions with colleagues, and/or two parent workshops with home literacy strategies and concepts learned during the course.

PLN8: Designing WebQuests (ONLINE COURSE) (EDCE508)
This seminar provides opportunities for teachers to create bridges for their students between the Web and relevant and related content areas. A WebQuest integrates the PLN framework with a compelling problem/question or challenge for students to investigate utilizing online and offline resources. Participants develop original learning experiences for students through the scaffolding WebQuest structure. A WebQuest enables educators and students to experience the Web as more than a fact-finding encyclopedia because it encourages them to analyze and synthesize information to make meaningful connections in an authentic context, and to increase their understanding of concepts in a variety of content areas. This seminar can be conducted online to provide flexibility for participation.

PLN14: The PLN Google Experience (ONLINE COURSE) (EDCE___)
The seminar integrates the PLN critical literacy experiences with Google Tools to support the use of technology as a mindtool. Participants bring communication and collaborative tools into their current curriculum instruction. They create collaborative documents and presentations to explore all content areas. Blogging and podcasting with Google Tools provides a user-friendly protected space for teachers and students to journal, share ideas and interact to enhance the social nature of learning. Google Earth’s and Maps’ interdisciplinary instructional capabilities foster geographical thinking by investigating literature road trips, examining the power of images and their impact on history and current events, and traveling the earth’s geography, explorations, migrations, and history. Guides and examples of teachers using Google Tools in innovative ways provide support for replicating and creating activities. In addition to Google applications Google power searching strategies to develop critical thinking about keywords and research skills are covered.

PLN 15: Engaging Students through Digital Learning Environments
In this seminar participants will investigate what motivates a digital learner. The PLN framework will be used to investigate ways in which technology can improve teaching and learning in the digital age. The Four Lenses of Learning as well as The Five Reading/Writing/Talking Processes will be examined through a variety of Web 2.0 applications such as: Google docs, Voice Thread, blogs, wikis, and Vimeo and social networks. Participants will identify an area of need in their classroom and use the PLN frameworks to develop learning activities incorporating the Web 2.0 tools.

The seminar is structured to provide participants with the opportunity to explore applications of technology that facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. Participants are expected to try out the strategies and tools explored in class and reflect on their application with colleagues and inform their practice through professional readings. Recommended before taking PLN 15: PLN 1

PLN 18B: Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum Infused with Technology
Participants are invited to take a fresh look at writing as writers themselves. Through collaborative, hands on experiences, participants continue to realize the interactive partnership of how reading good, rich literature inspires students to become good writers. This seminar continues to explore making sense of the writing process with ongoing discussions of what some of the experts have to say. Web 2.0 tools will be integrated to support the use of technology as a mind tool with writing. Participants bring communication and collaborative tools into their current writing curriculum instruction. They create collaborative documents and presentations to explore all content areas. This course is designed to welcome and support even those reluctant to embracing the partnership of technology and writing.

Through the introduction of a variety of writing strategies, teachers will gain the resources to be able to guide their students to continue to meet the goal of increasing opportunities for even reluctant writers to be actively engaged in the writing process. Participants explore practical strategies and suggestions about how to implement writing techniques and their appropriate application, while adapting to meet their varied needs across the curriculum. Breathing new life into writing is an active part of this course. Guiding and inviting teachers to use, and become comfortable using Web 2.0 Tools in innovative ways will provide support for many writing strategies. By inviting participants to explore technology creatively as a partnership, we will avoid the stresses often associated with technology. We will encourage a supportive learning environment for making connections as we explore and introduce our writing strategies.

PLN23: Digital Storytelling (ONLINE COURSE) (EDCE___)
Storytelling is a vital communication skill with seemingly unlimited applications. It can have a magical effect - moving, enlightening, or entertaining audiences. We tell stories to connect meaningful experiences to students and make abstract concepts real. The seminar presents examples to demonstrate how literature, math and social studies assignments can be transformed into digital storytelling adventures. Digital stories are communicated in several formats from the creation of basic audio offerings to multimedia projects. Several free media tools are introduced and participants select the media they are most comfortable with to create their own digital stories. No previous experience with digital multimedia tools is necessary.