KINGSTON, R.I., June 27, 2016—More than 150 teachers, college professors, librarians and media professionals will gather next month at the University of Rhode Island for a six-day educational technology conference.

The fourth annual Summer Institute in Digital Literacy is designed to support the learning needs of educators through an intensive program July 24 through 29 on the Providence Feinstein Campus, 80 Washington St., Providence.

Participants will explore a variety of digital media tools for learning, including Google Apps for Education, web, video and multimedia production. They’ll also learn how to use digital tools that inspire creativity, collaboration and critical thinking by choosing from among more than 40 workshops and exploring free or low-cost digital tools including Storify, FlipGrid, Padlet, WordPress and Evernote.

“By applying knowledge and skills in using digital texts, tools and technologies, participants advance their digital literacy through collaborative, practical hands-on creative activity, said Renee Hobbs, professor of communication studies and co-director of the program.

Participants will reflect on how literacy is changing as a result of media and technology and consider the implications of this cultural and technological shift for teaching and learning at all levels—in elementary school, high school and college.

“Through project-based inquiry and curriculum design, we show how to integrate digital literacy into existing academic programs,” said Julie Coiro, associate professor of education.

Chris Lehmann, principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, will be the keynote speaker Wednesday, July 27 at 9 a.m. in Paff Auditorium, on the Providence campus. Co-author of the new book, School 2.0: How to Create the Schools We Need, Lehmann leads an inquiry-driven, project-based high school focused on 21st century learning where the values of inquiry, research, presentation and reflection are emphasized in all classes.

Other workshop faculty will be Jill Castek of Portland State University; Kara Clayton of Lee M. Thurston High School in Redford Charter Township in Michigan; Charles Coiro of the Coast Guard Leadership Academy; Rhys Daunic of The Media Spot in New York; Yonty Friesem of Central Connecticut State University; Troy Hicks of Central Michigan University; Kristin Hokanson of Inquiry Schools in Pennsylvania; and Maria Ranieri of the University of Florence, Italy.

The Summer Institute in Digital Literacy is co-sponsored by URI’s School of Education and the Media Education Lab at the Harrington School of Communication and Media.

To register, visit http://mediaeducationlab.com/summer-institute-digital-literacy.

The Institute is part of a 12-credit graduate certificate program offered by Hobbs and Julie Coiro. That program was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a model of teacher education.

Hobbs says digital literacy is growing in importance because educators, government leaders and business leaders are recognizing the relevance of these skills to employees and the public.