Serving Students: The GVWP Writing & Technology Workshops

The Writing & Technology Workshops are exciting “writing labs” where teachers apply advanced instructional strategies with real students. With at least one teacher for every five students, the program allows close observation and individualized instruction. By offering guidance, encouragement, and time to develop ideas, teachers help participating students gain new confidence and skill as writers.

Using a “workshop” approach that emphasizes both teamwork and individual responsibility, teachers and students work together to create an environment that supports productivity and learning. Students attend traditional lessons where they learn important writing skills, but they also meet in small groups, conference with teachers, and spend plenty of time putting pen to paper. Every day, students spend time in computer labs exploring digital tools for editing, publishing, and multimedia communication.

The workshops are designed to draw a wide range of students from grades three through twelve. Participants bring unique perspectives from their diverse social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds. They also bring very different attitudes about school and writing. Some students choose to attend because they love to write; others feel nervous and uncomfortable with writing tasks when they begin. By the end of the first week, though, everyone begins to discover the joy of sharing interesting ideas with supportive peers.

Each year, a number of high school students are selected to serve as “Student Coaches” at future workshops. These outstanding young leaders assist in computer labs, facilitate multimedia production, lead writing conferences, and offer ongoing feedback to improve the program. They also work to update our slideshows and websites.

To learn more about the program and how the community comes together to make it happen, download this GVWP Writing & Technology Workshops brochure.

(click here to download PDF)