On-line Literature Circles
Winner, 2008 Ann Lydecker Educational Diversity Award,
UW-System
In the course of this exciting project that takes place in the spring
semester of each year, our English Education majors—all would-be teachers--lead
high school students from Adams Friendship High School and Milwaukee's Vincent
High School in structured on-line literature discussion groups about
African-American writers. The UW-Stevens Point students work in pairs, and each pair is
assigned to a mixed group of twelve high school students; our student-teachers
prompt discussion, respond to student postings, and design project assignments
for their own group. The on-line discussions culminate in a day-long series of
workshops on the UW-Stevens Point campus for these high school students from very different
backgrounds. Our student-teachers have given successful presentations on the
project at the convention of the Wisconsin Council of Teachers of
English.