Tech Play 3

Flowboard

I tried our Flowboard for the iPad.  Flowboard is a storytelling app that will allow students to make scrolling publications.  Flowboard allows students to add images, text, videos, photos, and links to their presentation.  You may add a pdf file.  However, this is done through an upgrade.

Content:  I believe this ipad app would be excellent to use for 4^th grade writing TEKS. 

Some TEKS may include:

 

• Write about important personal experiences.
• Create brief compositions (i) establish a central idea in a topic sentence; (ii) include supporting sentences with simple facts, details, and explanations; and (iii) contain a concluding statement.

I would use Robert Gagne’s nine events of instruction for this lesson.  They include: 

• Gain attention
• Inform learners of objectives
• Stimulate recall of prior learning
• Present the content
• Provide “learning guidance”
• Elicit performance (practice).
• Provide feedback
• Assess performance
• Enhance retention and transfer to the job

By using this app, students can create colorful stories to meet objectives.

I am glad I found out about this creativity tool.  I will share this with our teachers.  We have an iPad cart this is not being used.  I will move the cart to the library and have students create their own stories.  We were low in or 4^th grade writing scores.  Additionally, I like this app because you can share it via facebook, twitter, or email.

 

Link sample :  https://flowboard.com/s/1fvt

 Puppet Pals
 

The second iPad app I chose was PuppetPals2.   With PuppetPals, you can create animated shows.  You can pick your own backdrops and actors.  You can also record a narration. 

I had to upload video to YouTube.  I did not like this part as some districts block YouTube.

Content:  This app can meet the following state objectives for a Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications course:

• apply pre-production processes by:
• analyzing target audience to identify needs and wants;
• writing and editing scripts;
• storyboarding; and
• selecting aspect ratio and frame rate appropriate to delivery method;
•  

This app can be used in a collaborative learning environment whereby students can brainstorm stories to create with the objects.

Glogster



Another Application to use is Glogster.  Glogter allows users to create interactive posters.

This application can substitute a PowerPoint presentation.  This application can be used in all content areas.  It is endless what can be created with Glogster.



Sample Glogster

 

 

 

 

 

Link to my ePortfolio

http://eportfolio524chayes.weebly.com/

Tech Play 2: ePortfolios

I played around with several tools, and I decided to use Weebly.  I chose this avenue because I could upload various types of media such as documents, pdf files, videos, images, web links, etc.  Weebly also support blogging. I like the graphics of Weebly.  It was user friendly.  I paid the $39 dollars for a year’s subscription.  You have to pay if you want to add videos to your site.  I will also use this site to create my library media page. 

I googled “ePortfolio.”  Livebinder appeared.  I like Livebinder.  However, I could not add appearling graphics to make the opening page appealing to the viewer.  With Livebinder one can also add web pages, word documents, spreadsheet, images, links, etc.  If I was teaching a class, I would use Livebinder because it is free.  Educators can pay $99.50 per year for 50 GB of storage.  The free version has 100 MB of storage. 

My sample creation using Weebly.

http://technology524.weebly.com/

Other ePortfolio Sites:

 

http://designinstruct.com/roundups/free-online-portfolio/

 

 

Tech Play --Using a Blog

                                                            Content

 

I am a second year librarian at Versia L. Williams Elementary school in Fort Worth, Texas. Our 4th grade writing STAAR test scores are below standard. I feel a blog will help 4th graders improve their writing skills. Students can develop in the following TEKS using a blog. I propose allowing students to write book reviews online.

 

What is a Blog video by Brainpop Jr.

 

TEKS

• Write responses to literary or expository texts and provide evidence from the text to demonstrate understanding.
• Use capitalization for: historical events and documents; titles of books, stories, and essays; and languages, races, and nationalities; and recognize and use punctuation marks including: commas in compound sentences; and quotation marks.
• Identify the author, title, publisher, and publication year of sources.

 

 

 

These book review blog activities or learning outcomes will be appropriate under Bloom's Taxonomy of Evaluating. Students can justify a book review and use proper writing techniques.

 

 Pedagogy

 

A Constructivist educational technology theory would be suited for writing book reviews on a blog. Students can collaborate, critique postings, network, post blogs and moderate post.

 

Technology

This technology will get students excited about writing! A Blog affords students opportunities to practice their writing skills.

 

One obstacle I think a blog may have on the elementary level is the age appropriateness of an elementary student having his/her own blog. I will create an original blog and allow students to write their comments. This will ensure a safe environment for students. The postings can be monitored.