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My professional inquiry investigates how integrating digital literacies into middle and high school English Language Arts (ELA) instruction can enhance students’ critical thinking, media analysis, and content engagement, particularly in diverse, multilingual classrooms. Specifically, I am exploring how digital tools such as Flip (formerly Flipgrid), Canva for Education, Google Docs, and Padlet can support students in analyzing digital texts, creating multimedia projects, and engaging in collaborative, reflective learning.
What Course Essential Question Are You Investigating?
Course Essential Question:
How can educators effectively integrate digital literacies into the curriculum to enhance student learning and prepare them for a globalized, tech-driven world?
Connection:This inquiry connects directly to the course’s focus on modern technology, enhanced learning, and equitable access to digital resources. It aligns with discussions on how digital tools impact literacy development and how educators can leverage those tools to foster student agency, collaboration, and critical engagement.
What Two Course Outcomes Are You Demonstrating Proficiency With?
What Two Course Outcomes Are You Demonstrating Proficiency With?
Outcome 1: Design learning experiences that incorporate digital tools to support literacy development.
Through this inquiry, I’ve created lesson plans that embed digital platforms (e.g., Padlet, Canva, Flipgrid, Google Docs) into literacy instruction. These platforms support collaborative writing, visual storytelling, and reflective blogging, thus building students' digital and traditional literacies.
Outcome 2: Analyze current research to inform practice in literacy education.
I examined peer-reviewed studies on digital literacies and connected them to instructional practices. My reflection demonstrates how the research reshaped my approach to teaching digital literacy and media analysis in real-world contexts.
What Two Course Outcomes Are You Demonstrating Proficiency With?
What Two Course Outcomes Are You Demonstrating Proficiency With?
Outcome 1: Design learning experiences that incorporate digital tools to support literacy development.
Through this inquiry, I’ve created lesson plans that embed digital platforms (e.g., Padlet, Canva, Flipgrid, Google Docs) into literacy instruction. These platforms support collaborative writing, visual storytelling, and reflective blogging, thus building students' digital and traditional literacies.
Outcome 2: Analyze current research to inform practice in literacy education.
I examined peer-reviewed studies on digital literacies and connected them to instructional practices. My reflection demonstrates how the research reshaped my approach to teaching digital literacy and media analysis in real-world contexts.
Article 1: Leu, D. J., Forzani, E., Rhoads, C., Maykel, C., Kennedy, C., & Timbrell, N. (2015). The new literacies of online research and comprehension: Rethinking the reading achievement gap. Reading Research Quarterly, 50(1), 37–59. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.85
This study explores how digital reading and research skills influence literacy achievement. It argues that the digital divide extends beyond access, it includes the ability to evaluate and synthesize online content.
It reinforces the need for explicit digital literacy instruction to ensure equity in academic achievement, especially in under-resourced schools.
Article 2: Hobbs, R. (2017). Create to learn: Introduction to digital literacy. Wiley.
Hobbs presents a hands-on framework for integrating multimedia content creation into literacy instruction. The book outlines strategies to develop students’ creative expression through digital tools.This resource helped me implement project-based learning assignments using digital storytelling and multimedia production
Article 3: Rowsell, J., & Walsh, M. (2011). Rethinking literacy education in new times: Multimodality, multiliteracies, and new literacies. Brock Education: A Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 21(1), 53–62.
This article challenges traditional literacy frameworks and introduces multimodal literacies as essential in contemporary education. It argues that students should be taught to read and create content across different modes.It validated my decision to include audio, video, and visual elements in student assignments to deepen comprehension and engagement.
How Did Your Inquiry Support Your Professional Growth?
How Did Your Inquiry Support Your Professional Growth?
This inquiry helped me grow as a 21st-century educator by pushing me to explore how digital tools intersect with literacy instruction. I became more confident in using digital platforms for formative assessment, student expression, and collaborative projects. I can now better support students in becoming critical consumers and creative producers of digital content.
This inquiry helped me grow as a 21st-century educator by pushing me to explore how digital tools intersect with literacy instruction. I became more confident in using digital platforms for formative assessment, student expression, and collaborative projects. I can now better support students in becoming critical consumers and creative producers of digital content.
Will You Share Any of This Work with Colleagues or Publicly?
Will You Share Any of This Work with Colleagues or Publicly?
Yes, I plan to share my digital lesson plans and curated resources with colleagues during our next professional development workshop. I also plan to create a shared Google Drive folder with example student projects and tutorials. Public sharing may occur through professional learning networks like Edutopia or Teaching Tolerance.
Provide Evidence of Your Work
Provide Evidence of Your Work
Screenshot of a student Flipgrid response to a digital media prompt
Photo of a student-created Canva infographic on digital citizenship
Link to a Google Slides presentation used for collaborative story writing
Certificate of completion from a PD course on Digital Tools in the Classroom
Screenshot of a Padlet board used for peer feedback on blog posts
What Are the Four Best Resources You Found in This Work?
What Are the Four Best Resources You Found in This Work?
Common Sense Education:
Teacher-use; great for digital citizenship lessons, background knowledge, and classroom posters.
Flip:
Student-use; video-based reflection tool that supports digital speaking and listening skills.
Canva for Education:
Student-use; design infographics, posters, and presentations to demonstrate content understanding.
The New London Group’s Multiliteracies Framework:
Background/context; foundational theory behind multimodal and digital literacies instruction.
What Are Your Next Steps From This Inquiry?
What Are Your Next Steps From This Inquiry?
Incorporate student-led digital projects into each quarter (e.g., digital book reviews, interactive timelines)
Lead a peer workshop on integrating digital literacy into writing instruction
Begin a teacher action research journal to document the impact of digital literacies on student engagement and learning
Explore digital accessibility tools for students with diverse learning needs
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