People consume the written word on laptops, tablets and smartphones. How does the device affect how educators should be teaching students how to write and edit? In this session, Rosemary Jean-Louis from Georgia Public Broadcasting's New Media & Education covers best practices on how to transform students into digital communicators. It will explore how to write for multiple mediums: websites, mobile phones and emails. It will also show how to integrate the new, free portal PBS Learning Media into those lessons.

1. Teaching Writing and Editing in
a Digital World
September 13, 2013

2. Introductions
Rosemary Jean-Louis
Web Content Curator/Blogger
GPB New Media & Education
gpb.org/education
gpb.org/blogs/passion-for-learning
404-685-2544

3. gpb.org/education

4. Session Poll
What do you read
and what device are
you using to read
“stuff” with?

5. Screen Friendly Content
The way content is
organized, written and
edited has to
accommodate multiple
screen sizes.
*Responsive design

6. Screen Friendly Content
Text must be flexible enough to accompany other
digital elements:
•Video
•Still Images
•Slideshows
•Infographics

7. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Objectives:
Review writing techniques and best
practices that can be applied across
multiple screens.

8. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Objectives:
Review writing exercises that you can
apply yourselves and students can
apply.

9. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Objectives:
Review how to incorporate PBS Learning
Media in teaching some of these
techniques.

10. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Resource
The Yahoo! Style Guide

11. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
TIP #1
Construct text for digital reading:
• Put most important information/idea first
• Keep sentences and paragraphs short
• Use clear words for navigation and links

12. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Example Before & After Paragraph
BEFORE HOME PAGE:
Architronixx, founded by an architect, Jay Pogue, an engineer,
Barry Beasley, and a sound engineer, Mari DeHart, was a
totally new concept in 1981, when it was founded. The idea -
a firm that merged architecture, structural engineering, and
acoustics - was brand new. Today, Architronixx is still the
leader in the field it pioneered almost three decades ago,
and our buildings have garnered praise from national and
international authorities...

13. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Example Before & After Paragraph
AFTER HOME PAGE :
In 1981, Architronixx invented a new concept: buildings that
combine innovative architecture, intelligent engineering, and
acoustic design. Today, Architronixx is still the leader in the
field it pioneered almost three decades ago.
Learn more about how our designs work.
Walk through our award-winning buildings.
Read about our founders.

14. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Suggested Real World Exercise:
Choose a text heavy print brochure and
have students rewrite and reformat it as
a website homepage.

15. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Common Core Standards
CCW 4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
development, organization, and style are appropriate to
task, purpose, and audience.
CCW 5: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by
planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new
approach.

16. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
TIP #2
Make Text Scan Friendly:
• Write strong, concise headlines
• Bold headlines
• Use subheadlines that break up text
• Bold keywords
• Use bulleted and numbered lists

17. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Example Before & After Paragraph
BEFORE:
Everyone loves a picnic, which makes this deluxe picnic
basket set the the perfect gift. You’ll find it’s fully loaded
with plates, glasses, flatware, and napkins for four, plus a
bread knife, a cutting board, salt and pepper shakers, and
a corkscrew. It even comes with a fleece blanket for the
family to sit on. Buy it now for only $49.99.

18. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Example Before & After Paragraph
AFTER:
This deluxe picnic basket set makes the perfect gift. It’s fully
loaded with:
• Plates, glasses, flatware, and napkins for four
• Bread knife and cutting board
• Salt and pepper shakers
• Corkscrew
• Fleece blanket
Buy it now - $49.99

19. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
TIP #3
Develop and write for different digital styles:
Blogs - editorial/opinion writing
E-newsletters - Persuasive/marketing writing
Emails - Professional/business style writing
Articles - “Just the Facts” informational
writing

20. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
TIP #4
Write around and to include digital elements:
Images - Write clear captions/select
appropriate images
Videos - Summarize videos you are using

21. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Suggested Real World Exercise #2:
Choose a brochure for a product and
rewrite it as a blog post, e-newsletter,
online article and/or email to a teacher.
What would that look like?
Common Core Standard: CCW4, CCW5

22. What is PBS Learning Media?
gpb.pbslearningmedia.org

23. How do You Access it?:
•Sign up, register and login to get full access.
•gpb.pbslearningmedia.org
OR gpb.org/education - scroll
down to login to it.

24. Teaching Writing and Editing in a
Digital World
Questions?

25. Contact
Rosemary Jean-Louis
Web Content Curator/Blogger
GPB New Media & Education
gpb.org/education
Twitter: @gpbeducation
404-685-2500