Six Traits and
Technology
How to Connect the Tools
with Improving Writing
Instruction
Donald Graves’ “Conditions” for Writing –
Part of the Six Traits Philosophy
Time
Revision
Choice
Modeling
Safe environment
Authenticitypurpose, audience
Direct teaching
Preparing for all
contexts
Feedback
Principles/Structures
Relating Graves’ to Technology
Feedback – Mahara feedback/wall, Moodle online
writing assignment/forums
Authentic Audience – Moodle forums, Mahara
Views to other classes E-Portfolio
Modeling/Preparing for Contexts – posting
professional models, students seeing other students
Revision – MyAccess comments, Moodle comments
Environment (Choice/Time) – Digital citizenship,
Openness to innovation, creativity
Writing Process
1. Prewriting
2. Organizing
Moodle
3. Drafting
MyAccess
4. Revising
5. Editing
6. Publishing
Digital Storytelling:
Advanced Word, Powerpoint,
Podcasting, Photo, Video
E-Portfolio
Benefits from Using Moodle
• Accountability
• Ability to Keep Store Files and Activities from
Year to Year
• Differentiating Instruction
• Ability to Monitor and Adjust
• Ability to Participate (some who may be shy)
• Ability to Express Themselves
Drafting/Composing –
Moodle – Online Writing Assignment,
Posted to Forum (to get feedback),
Single File Upload
MyAccess – my own prompts or
Intellimetric prompts
Editing –
MyAccess – My Editor,
Comments, Using Computer
Feedback
Moodle – Online Writing
Assignment Comments
Applications for
Presentation Trait
and Motivation
Mahara – Design Webpage with Images,
Text, and Video
Glogster – Make a Digital Poster with
stylized text boxes, images, words and
animations
Audacity – Make a podcast with an audio
recording that can be uploaded to Itunes
Photostory – Digital pictures narrated
over to tell a story or teach lesson (Ken
Burns Effect)
VoiceThread/Google Wave –
Narrated pictures or
powerpoints that can be shared
and responded by in either
voice or writing by students
Moviemaker – Make a video that can be
uploaded to Schooltube, Teachtube, etc.
Comiqs or Make Beliefs Comix – students
can create comic strip style illustrations
and dialogue boxes