Discover the potential of the internet to engage your students in the writing process
1. Discover the
potential of the
Internet to engage
your students in the
writing process
(RASA
presentation)
by Fiona Beal
fionabeal@schoolnet.org.za
http://schoolnetsa.blogspot.com
2. Introducing myself…
• Have taught Grades 1 - 7 and was then
appointed as Computer teacher at a local
primary school where I made writing the
hub of the computer room. Now working
for SchoolNet SA in professional
development in technology-integration.
Am a Web 2 fanatic for FREE sites!
• Writing is my passion – I am a textbook
and story writer, a blogger, a creator of
technology integration courses, etc.
3.
4. Background to this
presentation
(this is an explanation of
learners not being keen on
writing in general and the
importance of good
pedagogy in writing
lessons)
26. 10 technology driven alternatives to
book reports
http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/articles/8529-10-technology-enhanced-alternatives-to-book-reports
27. There are so many of these
template-type sites available
47. Microsoft’s free ‘Songsmith’ – the learners write
the lyrics and Songsmith creates music for them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oGFogwcx-E
48. Microsoft’s free ‘Autocollage’
The learners could create autocollages and then write poems
about their pictures. This was done by an 8 year old at a school in
Johannesburg.
49. Windows MovieMaker can be used in so
many ways using the writing process
http://techblog.stcyprians.net/index/category/Innovative%20Students
Grade 8 Science students were asked to create an HIV Aids
Awareness campaign using Microsoft Movie Maker. One of the
outstanding submissions was entitled 'Nandi's Story' and it tells the
heartbreaking story of a teenage girl diagnosed with HIV Aids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hOOFik-nxnE
50. Grade 4 students create their own
stories with Windows Movie Maker
http://techblog.stcyprians.net/index/grade-4-students-create-their-own-stories-with-moviemaker
Our Grade 4 students have been hard at work creating, illustrating and narrating
their own stories using Microsoft MovieMaker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_PlSRH34RMM
63. Little Bird Tales
http://littlebirdtales.com/
http://fionabeal.edublogs.org/2011/05/10/we-loved-
using-little-bird-tales-today/
This is a free online writing programme
which has a place for the learners to either
draw or add their own illustrations to their
story, and also to narrate it their story so that
one reads and listen at the same time.
73. The Tooth Fairy
A collaborative story between three nations
Part 1: Kirdup and Geocro in South Africa
Part 2: Brandon in Canada
Part 3: Alan, Jero and Nico in Argentina
75. One day a little girl was playing in the garden. Her name was Taylor and
she was playing with her cousin Kirsty. You see, Taylor had a wiggly tooth,
and it was really bothering her, a lot. All of a sudden, POP! Out came the
wiggly tooth!!
"Hooray!" said Kirsty. "At last your tooth has come out. You will have to put
it under your pillow so that the tooth fairy can come and get it and leave
you some money.“
"Oh really?" said Taylor clapping her hands with excitement.
76. Our stories with sound project
http://fionabeal.edublogs.org/our-stories-with-sound-project/
85. St Cyprians Gr 10 blogging project
http://techblog.stcyprians.net/index/grade-10-english-blog-assignment
The reading project that they set up involved groups of three students selecting novels with a
common theme and then blogging about these books as they read them, with each member of
the group paying specific attention to plot, character or theme. The resulting blogs show how the
students have engaged with the books and reflected on their interpretations of the novels. The
questions and answers in the discussion threads show that the blogs have become a virtual book
club in which students can ask one another questions and agree or disagree with one another’s
interpretations in a non-threatening environment. At the end of this project, students were
expected to have one-on-one discussions with their English teacher about their books, a task
accomplished with more flair and confidence after having sustained a conversation virtually on
the blog.
Examples of student blogs:
The Color Purple
Romeo & Juliet
Engelby
Rumours
A million little pieces
87. Writing about slavery
http://shelleywright.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/life-in-an-inquiry-driven-technology-
embedded-connected-classroom-english
My students decided to create Common Craft-styled videos to
educate viewers about slavery. First, students needed to distill all
of their “fact” knowledge into a compelling story. Then they
needed to write the script, create paper characters, and finally
begin to practice moving their papers on the whiteboard. In the
end, it took hours to coordinate movement with script, film &
then edit our videos.
As part of this project, my students have also Skyped into
classrooms to teach what they have learned, so that other
students can begin this enormously important discussion in their
own communities. This is the connected part.
99. The Internet can be an
inspiring place for a
teacher…find out what
others are doing
100. Join a global project
http://thegloballunchtable.wikispaces.com/
101. Find out about cell phone projects - Teacher from
the Leap School starts publishing house (Fundza) and
includes three mobi stories via Mxit per month
102. Find out about the ‘Flipped class’ approach
http://shelleywright.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/life-in-an-inquiry-driven-technology-embedded-connected-classroom-english
“My teaching . . . then and now
• Before the technology/constructivist shift in my classroom, I would
have taught all of this quite traditionally. We’d read books, answer
questions, and then address those questions in class. I’d lecture a lot,
with supplemental grammar lessons here and there, and I’d include
some type of artistic project to achieve viewing and representing
objectives. The whole design would have been extremely teacher
centered. And at the end of it all, I’d hope they learned something
about writing and thinking.
• Instead, inquiry and technology are a natural part of our English
classes. It’s what my students have come to expect and have started to
design themselves. Instead, of saying, “hand in your assignments,” I
say, “publish your assignments and send me the link.” They think about
connecting and sharing their learning in the larger world.
• That’s the 21st century difference.”
103. Enter competitions that encourage
writing advertised on the Internet
http://e-classroom.co.za/
104. Skype in the classroom competition
http://education.skype.com/
106. So much is happening in the teaching
world via the Internet. Share your
experiences with other
• Twitter – sharing ideas and resources
• Tablets – are they next? Are they the answer?
• Join in TeachMeets around the country
• Join a local Twitterchat for teachers http://edchatsa.co.za
• Share a Scoop.it (as mentioned earlier)
CONNECT ON THE INTERNET