Imagine Jack Gantos talking to your class about the way he breathes life into his wonderful characters. Wouldn't you love that to happen anytime you want? And as many times as you want? I certainly would. Well, various publishers and online sources are offering online experiences just like that. During Friday's seesion, I was introduced to TeachingBooks.net, a subscription-based web portal that organizes all types of formats (text and media) to spotlight authors and literature resources.
I watched Jack Gantos' online interview and was delighted with candid comments about his beginnings and inspirations. You can't get this type of close-up portrait unless he is invited to your school (and we know how much that costs). This celebrated author answered the “invisible interviewer's” questions about the value of reading, journaling, and how personal experiences can influence writing. If I were a child watching this interview either individually or with my class, I would feel that he was personally mentoring me by advising me to fix my mistakes as I make them, and encouraging me to journal and draw to express all my feelings. His love of children is so obvious in this filmed interview, and I was impressed by the intimacy of the online experience.
TeachingBooks.net offered a variety of ways to utilize online media to enhance the author connection. For example, online author interiews can be used at a variety of levels: one librarian suggested that her HS career class could benefit by using author interviews online, and others promoted a variety of ELA and character education connections at the middle and elementary levels.
How can online media support research skills? It creates a primary source that is easily shared, cost efficient, and archivable. Chris Crutcher was captured on an audiofile that explained Deadline's plot, and as he read Chapter One aloud, it was obvious that because the author is “there” to introduce the book, it makes it more interesting to the student. In another example, Roald Dahl's voice gave listeners an insight into how his famous characters were developed while his image was displayed along side his most famous books.
The multimedia lessons through TeachingBooks.net's portal are not just for students. There are professional development opportunities that assist teachers in a multitude of strategies. For example, how about being introduced to Reader's Theatre via a personally performed reading by Walter Dean Myers, Sharon Creech, Avi, and Sarah Weeks? Wow. I was impressed. The instuctional video offered advice and realistic ways to create a successful reader's theatre experience for any teacher interested in alternative assessment or fun.
Let's not forget the illustrators! We had the pleasure of watching one illustrator's techniques as she worked in her own studio, and I can guess that students would be mesmerized by the feeling of being there to help. This particular video, and others featuring picturebook illustrators would serve as fun guides for classes who are studying the art of book making.
TeachingBooks.net suggested that there are a many ways that streaming audio and video can be used to support balanced literacy. This technology teaches skills through authentic literature and can help students learn about design and artistic purpose. (That sounds a lot like Dan Pink's opening session speech!) For more information, you can check them out at www.TeachingBooks.net.
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