UIWP WEBPAGE

Delores Lloyd, dlloyd@uiuc.edu, University of Illinois, National Writing Project, Summer Institute 2008

Something exciting was going on at the University of Illinois.  But isn't there always something going on there, you may be wondering.  There is, but this was different.  It's different because this time I was going to be a part of an exciting new program beginning this summer.  For the first time, the University of Illinois has begun a National Writing Project Institute and this summer was going to be the first summer institute.    If you are interested in learning about some of the things we did during the summer institute, you have come to the right place.  Continue browsing my site and you'll learn about a few of the exciting things I experienced.  I also encourage you to visit the sites of other participants.    Lastly, if you would like to learn more about the National Writing Project, please visit the link UIWP.

Reflection       I couldn't think of a better way to spend the first four weeks of my summer.  The institute was a blast!  I remember being excited and anxious the weekend before the institute.  I was anxious because I didn't know what to expect or who else had been selected to participate in this great opportunity.   The first day arrived and my feelings changed within a matter of minutes.      As Gail handed out the first weeks schedule and explained what we would be doing, my feelings changed from anxious to that of worry.  I could not believe all the things we would be doing and the technology we would be learning or for that matter expected to use during the next four weeks.  I began to think, "but I thought this was going to be all about writing and demonstrations." Boy, was I surprised to find out we would be using laptops to do everything.     Well, it's the last week of the institute and I am beaming because I'm so excited about what I have learned.  Who would have guessed that after four weeks I could now create a website, create a digital movie, burn my digital movie to CD and set up a blog.  And that's not all I learned, I've learned so much more.     The summer process has really gotten me excited because of all the technology we've learned and will be able to use in the classroom with students, as well as colleagues.  I have been thinking about a website that my class could possibly create in the fall.  The site would likely include interviews or video segments of the students explaining the importance of recycling.  I'd like for the students to teach the community based on what they are learning in school.  Perhaps, have them explain what we are doing as a class and a school community as active participants in the process of becoming a green school.      As I continue to reflect on this experience and become more and more excited about using the technology I'm learning, I hope I can remember half the things the technology experts have taught us because, this program has really opened my eyes to the possibilities.  I can't wait for the school year to begin.  I am a little worried about forgetting certain technology processes, however, it's comforting to know the technology experts from the institute are available if I or other participants need to contact them for support.  They have also created links from the UIWP webpage as a means of support.        Now as we have come down to the last couple of days of the institute, the most valuable part of the experience has come to my attention.  It is the collegial relationships that have developed.  We've learned so much from one another and have grown as professionals.  Relationships have formed and will continue to flourish because of this unique bond we share as the first University of Illinois Writing Project Institute participants and I am so pleased to have been a part of this experience.