The document summarizes a collaborative magazine cover project between 5th grade students and FSU students. The project allowed students to view, comment on, and connect with each other through blogging. Research shows that over half of internet-using teens are content creators by working on blogs, websites, or sharing original content. Effective teachers scaffold multimodal literacies and technical skills for students. Arranging writing situations with authentic audiences through classroom blogs increases student motivation and engagement. Charts from the project show that over half of students displayed a willing attitude towards writing and could write attentively for 15-20 minutes.

1. Mary Jo Swiger
2012

2. The collaborative magazine cover project allowed 5th grade
students to participate in viewing, making comments and
connecting with FSU students through blogging.
 An article in District Administration (2006) states, “Among Internet-using teens, 57 percent
are content creators, or those who have worked on a blog or Web page or shared original
creative content, according to a Pew Internet and American Life Project report, Teen
Content Creators and Consumers”(p. 18).
Magazine Cover Project

3. According to Mills (2010), “Teachers have a key responsibility to scaffold
multimodal literacies and model new technical proficiencies. They can lead
students to engage in sophisticated, mature forms of communication that are
unattainable for many students without intervention and expert guidance”
(p.41).
Cady is preparing for a Skype session.

4. Teachers acting as facilitators and managing classroom blogs arrange student
writing situations with an authentic audience increase motivation and
engagement. (Castek, et al., 2008)
Collaborative writing artifact.

5. Displays a Willing Able to Write
Attitude Attentively for 15-20
towards Writing Minutes
5% 4%
6%
12%
89%
84%
Each chart reveals more than half of the students displayed a
willing attitude towards writing and wrote attentively for 15-20
minutes.

6.  Boling, E., Castek, J., Zawilinski, L., Barton, K., & Nierlich, T. (2008). Collaborative literacy:
Blogs and internet projects. Reading Teacher, 61(6), 504-506.
 District Administration. (2006). Beauty of blogging: But is it too much information?.
(2006). District Administration, 42(1), 18.
 Mills, K. A. (2010). Shrek Meets Vygotsky: Rethinking Adolescents' Multimodal Literacy
Practices in Schools. Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 54(1), 35-45.