School of Education Debuts Innovative Workshops
June 22, 2011
Staten Island Campus -
On Saturday, June 4, 2011, The School of
Education, Staten Island campus, hosted its first annual
Digital Literacies Summer Institute. The
Institute, which attracted K-12 educators from the New York area,
featured practical techniques to help educators utilize digital
literacies and multidisciplinary approaches in order to enhance
learning in their classrooms. It consisted of a full day of
hands-on workshops that included Web 2.0 online tools, digital
video and arts-based web resources.
The Digital Literacies workshops facilitated the collegiality and
experimentation necessary for educators to consider the realm of
possibilities that 21st century tools offer. Dr. Deborah Greh, a
presenter and Co-Director, noted that working with art resources is
always both enjoyable and entertaining. “When looking at Google Art
Projects, for example, classroom teachers discussed how they could
use Art to keep the other core subjects alive,” said Dr. Greh.
Though educators saw the immediate application of the resources
explored at the Institute, the overall goal of the Institute was
for educators to build upon what they learned and make it their
own.
Dr. Aliya Holmes, also a presenter and Co-Director of the
Digital Literacies Summer Institute, underscored
the innovative elements of the sessions. “The workshops placed the
participants in the driver seat as a developer, explorer, inventor,
teacher and learner. Whether a skilled user or novice with digital
tools, this Institute offered something for everyone and emphasized
how simple tools and techniques can take an experience from
ordinary to extraordinary," said Dr. Holmes.
“The Institute was a terrific success,” says Dr. Sandra Abrams,
Co-Director of the event, “and the participants’ feedback indicates
a real need for such hands-on professional development and
collaboration.” The participants also expressed their
satisfaction with the workshop, saying that “the information
provided was clear and can be easily incorporated into any teaching
style and level.” All involved seemed to have had a wonderful
experience and were pleased to have been a part of the event.
The outcome and feedback of the first annual Digital
Literacies Summer Institute had been so positive that
plans are already underway to prepare for next year’s
workshop.
Photo Gallery
For more information about the Digital Literacies Summer
Institute and The School of Education
please contact:
Rosette Marie Allegretti,
Ed.D.
Assistant Dean
The School of Education
DaSilva Academic Center 207B
Staten Island, NY 10301
(718) 390-4130
allegrer@stjohns.edu