Constructing Modern Knowledge at ISTE 2010

Constructing Modern Knowledge

Gary’s Intro/Keynote

  • Why do we need to invent digital storytelling? There’s film-making and writing. Digital storytelling is a school invention to fit into our class periods.
  • Having agency over the computer is important but like dancing or singing or sports – anything you want to get good at, you have to build some fluency.
  • I am surprised when adults are surprised that kids do extraordinary things.
  • Craft vs Crap – kids make things that they want to keep and their parents want to keep.
  • Making things is better than being passive but making good things is even better.
  • Software determines what you do and what you do determines what you learn.
  • Give prompts that are not too big … if the prompt is too big, the range of experience that the kids can have is too small.

Resource recommendation

Presentation: Research Without Copying by Elizabeth Allen

  • introduce research and change the end product –> get them to synthesize rather than copy
  • work smarter, not harder

Why kids copy

  • limited reading ability
  • limited vocabulary
  • lack of research skills
  • lack of understanding of assignment
  • lack of motivation
  • a non-stimulating final poduct

Examples of activities to do using Tech4Learning activities

  • associative letter report (do research and use a thesaurus). Students can write sentences to describe why the word is related to the research topic
  • if, but report (compare and contrast using first person vs another person)
  • if report (cause and effect using three facts)
  • geography riddle
  • mystery report (10 facts about a topic presented to class in the form of a game – audience chooses number and audience guesses after each answer)
  • fact or fiction book (answer is behind the question)
  • tell me again (modeled after tell me again book for creating an autobiography)
  • never-ever
  • fortunately-unfortunately
  • attribute report
  • for rent
  • classifieds
  • wanted poster
  • 5 senses poem
  • top 10 (modelled after David Letterman’s top 10)
  • animation
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Software Trials

  • Sylvia Martinez – TechYES mini kit coupon
  • Pat from SchoolKit with 3 months subscription to PD21
  • Intoclass for student class work
  • Microworlds EX software

Software demo

  • Frames
  • inspireData
  • Microworlds EX

Trial

  • Animation-ish
  • Microworlds EX – made a horse race … need to add cheering, can horse stop when it touches the red line, not when the middle of the horse get to the line?
  • Keep a count for best of 5 or 10 races

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