These slides supported a presentation at the 2010 Building Learning Communities Conference - July 2010.

1. Composing to Create
a Digital Identity
BLC 2010
Session 2 Workshop
Sara Kajder
Virginia Tech

2. Resources:
Wiki -
tiny.cc/kajderblc
Backchannel -
tiny.cc/kajderchat
Google Doc -
tiny.cc/composeid Contact Info:
Email - skajder@vt.edu
Twitter - skajder
Skype - skajder

5. The Kids in Period Four...
Marcus Ashley Joe
Reading on 5th “Accelerated reader” Reading above grade
grade level imprint level.
“Dormant” reader “Resistant” reader “Speed” reader
Skateboarder/You Annotated map Podcasted radio show
Tube developed for youth with large number of
group. subscribers”

6. “Toe Holds”
Research on identity
and literacy.

7. On Literacy and Identity
• “Literacy is a culturally mediated and practice infused
activity that constantly pulls on the personality of the
speaker, the writer, or the reader.” (Pahl & Rowsell,
2005, p. 98).
• “A Discourse is a sort of identity kit which comes
complete with the appropriate costume and
instructions on how to act, talk and often to write, so as
to take on a particular role that others will
recognize.” (Gee, 1990, p. 142)
• “Students can use artefacts - images, symbols,
discourses, etc. - to modulate their cognition enough to
overcome negative social positioning.” (Bartlett,
2005), p. 3).

8. “Toe Holds”
Research on identity
and literacy.
Knowing the “rocket
fuel” behind leading
students to generate
and share literacy
artifacts.

9. “Toe Holds”
Research on identity
and literacy.
Knowing the “rocket
fuel” behind leading
students to generate
and share literacy
artifacts.
Students’ willingness to
co-construct literacy
practices and “be seen.”

10. Purpose
Mode
Audience
“Literacy artifacts
prove particularly
Genre Discourse important for those
whose literacy
performances are
under particularly
Literacy is a highly situated close scrutiny.”
event, practice, or activity in - Bartlett (2007) p. 64
which people read and write
in certain ways to be part of
particular communities.

11. A scaffold began to emerge...
• Full class “invitations” (and “training wheels”)
Learning together
• Being purposefully transparent about my
learning (and emerging footprint).
• Individual or small group contributions to full
class sites/environments.
• Individual composing and intentional crafting
of digital footprint (and eportfolio)

17. A scaffold began to emerge...
• Full class “invitations” (and “training wheels”)
Learning together
• Being purposefully transparent about my
learning (and emerging footprint).
• Individual or small group contributions to full
class sites/environments.
• Individual composing and intentional crafting
of digital footprint (and eportfolio)

19. “I am choosing how and when and
what to tell. I didn’t think that
counted as English. Are you sure?”
- Marcus, pd. 4, June
2009

20. “Learning... is a process of
becoming a member of a sustained
community of practice... Developing
an identity as a member of a
community and becoming
knowledgeably skillful are part of
the same process.”
- Lave & Wenger (1991) Situated Learning

21. We shall not cease from our exploring
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
- From “Little Gidding,” T.S. Ellot

22. Resources:
Wiki -
tiny.cc/kajderblc
Backchannel -
tiny.cc/kajderchat
Google Doc -
tiny.cc/composeid Contact Info:
Email - skajder@vt.edu
Twitter - skajder
Skype - skajder