McKenzie+Breakout+Session+Topic+Choices

Number 3: Beyond Cut and Paste is the topic for his Keynote address. He will do 2 breakout sessions. We must choose the topics for these two sessions. Please add your thoughts or comments. We will your comments to help us choose. We need to know the topics to use in our communications about the conference as well as content on the webiste.

Thanks for your feedback. The Presenters Committee


 * 1. Reading Between Digital Lines**

As an increasing share of the texts young people read are now delivered electronically, to what extent has the challenge of comprehension shifted from the days when most words appeared in books, magazines, newspapers or notes passed in class? Jamie explores some of the unusual traits and aspects of electronic text, taking a balanced position that praises some features while warning of others. He lays out strategies to take advantage of the promises while avoiding the perils.


 * 2. Reading Across a Dozen Literacies**

At a time when some have tried to define "literacy" narrowly, Jamie proposes that we look at "reading" quite broadly, asking how we can further the comprehension skills of all our students whether they be reading a poem, someone's face or the story captured by a photograph or painting. Given the rich offerings available through the online world, he argues this broader conception of reading allows schools to deliver on the historical notion of "reading across the curriculum."

3. Beyond Cut-and-Paste: Engaging Students - KeyNote address topic in Making Good New Ideas

We are suffering from a cut-and-paste culture bred by the ease with which any of us can locate and save information. Sadly, Google and its relatives give us all a false sense of security and wisdom as we can search for something as elusive as "the truth" and Google delivers an answer in less than ten seconds.

Schools and districts committed to 21st Century Skills as well as the standards of AASL and ISTE must confront this cut-and-paste culture head-on, eliminating those classroom practices that encourage and promote such lazy thinking and research, replacing them with activities that are more challenging and more worthwhile.


 * 4. Teaching Media Literacy in an Age of Wikilobbying, Spin, Tabloid Journalism and the Photoshopping of Reality**

How do young people learn what is happening in their world when the media has turned dramatically from the reporting of news to a focus on scandal, celebrity gossip and disasters of various kinds? In this presentation Jamie gives examples of spin, Wikilobbying and the photoshopping of reality while providing an overview of how schools might make media literacy an important element in the curriculum