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