ICT Workshop 5 - Online Multimedia Resources

In this weeks workshop we had a brief look at various online multimedia teaching tools. The fundamental purpose in reviewing these websites was to form an understanding of ways to creatively enhance the learning experience of children in the classroom with ICT. The obvious advantage in having students use multimedia programs relates to higher levels of engagement. However, beyond that, it is important to recognise the core objective of each activity set and ensure students do not become distracted within the creative process. By this I mean that as important as it is for students to familiarise themselves with program features, they may easily become side-tracked if not guided through the activity and get lost in their own exploration. As such, teachers may set time lines that allow for a play around session before beginning the activity as defined by the learning objective.

The Zimmer Twins Website allows children to make their own animated movies, an activity particularly useful for English and evaluating various issues in Humanities. For example, within an environmental unit, teachers may have students create their own advertising campaign to raise public awareness. This may form the later part of a lesson plan that involves groups of students researching different environmental issues, discussing possible solutions and then creating their own campaign. With something like this, teachers may further engage students by organising an environmental awareness day, and having each group set up a display that shows their research on the issue and the campaign video they created.

With the English discipline, there are various ways teachers may take advantage of movie making software. For story writing, a comparative advantage as opposed to traditional pen and paper techniques is that as well as formulating a plot and story dialogue, students must also analyse the best way to visually represent their ideas. A teacher may also set a role playing theme, for example conflict resolution, and have students use their animated videos to portray their interpretations.

Zimmer Twins Website - Movie Maker

http://www.zimmertwins.com/movie/starters

The Roller Mache Website is also handy for story telling activities. Resources are available here that demonstrate different ways to tell a story, for example story boarding and clay model freeze framing. It is integral to differentiate learning activities, fundamental when catering for mixed ability classrooms. A great way to encourage creative ambition of children with hands on artistic skills would be to have them stage a production using clay models or their own puppets. A production in which kids work in groups and have the chance to reveal their final piece of work to an audience also adds an element of empowerment to the learning process. Videos from Roller Mache depicting professional projects are a great source of inspiration when setting these kind of projects.

Roller Mache Website

http://www.abc.ne.au/rollercoaster/rollermache/

The next two websites, Build Your Wild Self and Mini Mizer allow students to design their own characters. This sort of activity may form the basis of a descriptive writing task. Also, printouts of created characters make great classroom display material. Character development software has additional value when exploring social issues like stereotyping. Students may be asked to use the design tools to represent their interpretations of certain stereotypes and this may lead into a class discussion.

Build Your Wild Self Website

http://www.buildyourwildself.com/

Mini Mizer Website

http://humor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.reasonablyclever.com

With the Sketch Swap Website, students use the mouse to draw a picture free hand. Once completed, the picture is sent out becoming part of a shared database, and another random piece of work is displayed- a sketch swap as the name suggests. Teachers must be cautious as to the lack of control they have with the random swap feature and inappropriate material may sneak through even though the site is monitored. At the same time, there are many innovative activities that can be applied to the program dynamics. Students may take on the role of art critics and analyse the vision and style of different images that appear. Screen shots can be taken and they could construct some sort of art catalogue. Once again...its all about reaching that higher level thinking.

Sketch Swap Website

www.sketchswap.com/

Zip Tales is another online resource developed as a literacy tool for children. Though the program requires registration and costs apply, it has been professionally developed with a framework that fits right into the classroom. There are a wide range of text types and stories available and activities focus on areas like comprehension, spelling and grammer. I like how there are genres that appeal to both genders; adventure, fantasy, mystery and fairytales. I think boys are much harder to motivate in reading and writing activities. It is important to capture their interest with vivid animations, sound effects and stories that appeal to their thirst for adventure.

Zip Tales Website - Online Learning Tool

http://www.ziptales.com.au/