Writing Revitalization through Integrated Technology and Enrichment

Summary Overview

Project WRITE is a one-year professional development program funded as a University/School Partnership under NCLB funds (Title II, Part A). The University of Oregon’s Center for Advanced Technology in Education (CATE) and the Oregon Writing Project are collaborating to provide high quality professional development on technology-supported writing instruction to middle school teachers.

In January of 2004 Project WRITE began professional development workshops with 20 middle school teachers in three Oregon schools: Hamlin Middle School in Springfield, Winston Middle School in Winston-Dillard, and French Prairie Middle School in Woodburn. Due to an unexpected fiscal supplement from the funding agency, we are able to add approximately 15 teachers to the project from 2 Eugene middle schools: Kelly Middle School and Madison Middle School.

Participation Means

  1. Planning a school-wide writing program, aligned with the state’s new grade level standards and customized to the schools specific needs;
  2. Assessing the school’s technology resources and developing a maximally effective plan for using these resources to support the school’s writing program;
  3. Having access to an intensive, sustained, and customized professional development program focused on improving writing instruction and integrating technology into the teaching and learning of writing across the curriculum;
  4. Integrating new ideas and strategies for the teaching of writing into classroom lessons and then refining them using student and peer feedback;
  5. Joining a learning community of teachers, principals, parents, and other educators interested in improving writing instruction at the middle school level;
  6. Enjoying a variety of professional benefits such as release time, stipend for attending a 3-day summer institute, release time for half-day workshops, in-class mentoring PDUs, graduate credit (optional), and technology-related “goodies”.

Participating teachers from selected middle schools receive:

  1. Stipend to attend a 3-day professional development institute focused on computer-supported writing strategies and release time for 3-6 half day workshops;
  2. On-site support, peer feedback, and mentoring designed to support application of learned strategies in teachers’ classrooms throughout the year.
  3. A site license for Inspiration Software for their school labs;
  4. USB “jump drives” for their personal use in transferring files PDUs and optional UO graduate credits at $52/credit.

 Anticipated outcomes are:

  1. Increase teacher knowledge and skill related to writing instruction
  2. Increase the integration of writing instruction across the curriculum
  3. Increase the use of technology to support the teaching and learning of writing
  4. Increase the sense of community and collective participation in the school’s writing program
  5. Improve student performance related to Oregon’s state standards in writing (Grades 6-8.)

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