Tuesday, 19 July 2016
Book Creator -- Presentations!
Whew! That was a very hard activity for me, because I'm not much of a technology-user in my daily life and so have little skill with the physical aspects of the project (switching between screens, typing on the iPad, just the basic technological fluency of it all...) I was glad to get lots of help from Barb to put this book together; I thought we had great ideas, but we definitely struggled with putting the actual book together. I think this is something our students might find easier, since most of them are more familiar and comfortable with technology than I am.
Loved seeing all the different ideas people came up with. Lots of crossover, of course; I think many of us focused on explaining who's who in the school, as well as using Book Creator as a "welcome to our school" tool to explain rules, procedures, etc.
I really liked the first presentation's Eye Spy project idea; a great way to get kids accustomed to the school, and accessible to all.
I also liked the options for students who are absent; that they can stay connected using Book Creator and keep up with what they miss in the class.
Top 21 ideas that struck me as especially useful, interesting, and fun:
1. Family albums
2. Students introducing their family background and/or culture (especially international students, Mi'kmaq students . . .) -- showing diversity and cultural practices
3. News Flash similar to Harry Potter's Daily Prophet newspaper
4. Singing books! This was easily one of my favourites.
5. Video show-and-tell presentations
6. Using the stylus-pen in order to emphasize both physical writing practice and use the Book Creator technology
7. Job Interview skills could be taught with this app -- could go on as a reference book for the kids in future, too.
8. Video references for resumes! This was such an original idea! Videos of your resume reference-people saying nice things about you . . .
9. A professional poster advertising you, the student
Whew! Just sat back down after our presentation.I talk too much when I get nervous; I know we went over-time (please, folks, tell me to can it if you need to!), but I hope we did a good job presenting our ideas. Again, while I found the technology itself difficult to get a handle on, I loved the possibilities inherent in the app.
More ideas from other folks:
11. Creating comic book with audio effects
12. Explaining fractions
13. Exploring planets and space
14. More space and science -- talking astronauts! Loved this one. A creative way to describe what you have learned, as well as to add interest to the instructions for the projects.
15. A pitch to get a new technology or service in the school (such as the "elevator pitch")
16. Dragon's Den project for a marketing class (present to actual entrepreneurs from the community)
17. School newsletter on Book Creator rather than on paper (being mindful of course of the "accessibility issues" caused by poverty and its potential technology-gap,if not all kids have iPads).
18. Interactive cookbooks with links to videos
19. Interactive non-fiction book, maybe about the kids in the class
20. Interactive Word Wall (more accessible for all students)
21. Demonstrating knowledge of patterns with audio and images/video
Everyone's presentations were unique and full of lots of unusual, unexpected uses for Book Creator. I don't have access to iPads in my classroom (at least not for anywhere near all my students), but I will find ways to try to use this app in my lessons when possible.
Your presentation was great Suzanne! You displayed enthusiasm and lots of great ideas to be utilized with Book Creator!
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