Building
Learners
Project

I have just shared more templates with the entire group so you can do “Quick Projects.” Not only are these adaptable across the curriculum, they also teach basic skills within the workBench as you use them, so the next project can be even more adventurous. The templates I shared are:

stepbystep template (a multi-screen template with one step on each screen). The hyperlinks  between screens are already done for you using the forward and back arrows. Ideas for how you might use it are below.

simplecycletemplate (a two screen template, one with the cycle diagram using text boxes and telling you to drag in images, the second with a Credits screen so students will give proper credit for the source of their images).

watercycle (an example of the simplecycletemplate being put to use. I gave it to you in case you teach this content and want to use it with adaptations for your curriculum)

Both templates use the following basic workBench skills:

1. Teacher skill in “Make me a copy” and sharing the template with your class (See Managing Resources video or my TIP below)
2. SAVE AS!!!- do this when you start so each student or group has their own copy of the template before changing it
3. Typing into a text box
4. Dragging and resizing images and text boxes as needed
5. Deleting items, such as the instruction boxes telling how to use the template (a MUST-have skill, but be careful… there is no “undo”!)
6. Changing the order of elements to they overlap the way you want them to (”Shift layer”)
7. Changing color of the background (optional)
8. Rotating the arrow image (simple template)
9. Copy/pasting the arrow (simple template)
10. Using keyboard commands for copy (CTRL+C)/paste (CTRL+V, think of  V for VELCRO to “Stick it there”)
11. Moving between screens by clicking them in the Site Map and knowing which screen you are working on (especially when using the multi-screen  stepbystep template)
12. Rotating images (optional)
13. saving and (if you wish) sharing via URL

You could actually start with the simplecycletemplate for a first project then move to the longer one if you are concerned that your students will have trouble mastering the skills. But, honestly, we adults are the ones who need the practice. The kids “get it” much faster. The NEXT skill you will want them to learn is hyperlinking, but first things first.

Some examples of the simplecycle template in use are here:

http://tf.trintuition.com/cshively/watercyclesimple  A very basic water cycle using the images I SHARED with all of you ( remote images from Flickr–see this explanation to learn how I found them in five minutes).

http://tf.trintuition.com/cshively/watercycle a slightly more elaborate version of a water cycle diagram, using the same set of images, but more of them. Note that YOU may use these and adapt at will.  Simple image credits (links) for all the water cycle images are there for you.  Simply delete the ones you aren’t using. This is a simple way for you to share images with your class but still offer them the choices about what they use.

TIP: I actually went to Flickr and “harvested” all the image URLS onto the Credits screen, THEN added then to the workBench using copy paste from that screen. Sharing them with the BLP group was easy. Click Manage Resources and DRAG the images on top of the group you want to share with!

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How could you use these?

In language arts/speech class, use the stepbystep as a visual aid for how-to speeches, for making sequenced plot summaries or discussing o the development of the conflict in a piece of literature. Or simply use stepbystep for digital story-telling of any kind, including autobiographies or biographies from research projects.

In social studies, use the step by step for student groups to explain the lead-up to a war or other historic event.

In science,  have students explain photosynthesis, animal or insect life cycles, or chemical reactions. If you permit them to use Flickr images, you will find that they can be very imaginative in “showing” as well as “telling.”  Or use digital pictures you and the class take to document a step by step, such as how your class garden progressed or the physics lab your students conducted. Use step by step as a visual “lab report” done in small groups.

In math, explain the steps to a certain type of problem solving or the Order of Operations.

In health, explain the steps of human development.

And so on…any cycle or sequence will fit these.

Adapt the templates with as many prompts or hints as you need to make ESL/ELL or learning support students successful. It is easy to SAVE AS multiple versions to share (and differentiate) for different students or groups.  You can even add a word bank so they have the required terms handy.

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How is this different from just making a PowerPoint?

1. Can be shared on the web– with changes showing LIVE as they are made
2. Can be created by students in multiple locations at multiple times
3. Can have embedded (but remote) images from elsewhere on the web
4. Teacher can manage group collaboration
5. Not automatically “linear” in navigation…though these templates happen to be
6. No software required (except Flash– free!)
7. Students can show people at home without special software

Now…go try them! Please comment or ask questions here!

I have recently been in touch with other members and am starting to do some projects with them. I am glad I joined this program. I love learning and doing “new” things. Thanks!! Sue

I have just shared a sample Quick Project and project template for a Visual Poem Quick Project. You can find it one of two ways:

1.  I have shared them with all the project members within the workBench (go to Manage My Resources  to see them under Shared With Me and click to Make me a Copy).  Feel free to change the versions I made to better suit your needs with YOUR students (ex. change the requirements, etc.)
2. You can view the sample project itself  from this URL: http://tf.trintuition.com/cshively/visualpoem.  Feel free to share it with students (or not).

Here is the background  and some context for this  Quick Project idea:

• Students can write their own poems and add visual images to go with them, either in groups or individually. If you have studied an important historical event, why not ask your elementary student to create a visual poem about it.
• As your class studies poetry and literary devices (imagery, motifs, etc.), have them create a visual poem with annotations to show their understanding of the poem’s imagery. If you use poems from the public domain, you can include the ENTIRE poem in the project. If  the poems you use are newer and still under copyright, have students select portions of the poem under “Fair Use” of copyrighted material to combine with images in their visual poems. This would be a terrific activity for students to explore the visual imagery and themes within song lyrics as poetry, as well.
• Younger students can use classic poems with more concrete imagery to visually illustrate the metaphors and similes they read.
• With elementary classes, do a whole-class visual poem as a message to send (by emailing the URL) to another class in another part of the world (another Building Learners class?) or to your class parents, summarizing what you have learned about animals, Thanksgiving, family, community, or any curriculum concept. This is a wonderful way of culminating a unit and sharing it proudly.
• Gifted students would respond well to the open-ended challenge of visual poetry at ANY age

Have other ideas? Share them here as comments!

I have just finished a quick tutorial ( using the workBench, of course) on using images from the Flickr photosharing site in your workBench projects. You can see it two ways.

1.  I have shared it with all the project members within the workBench( go to Manage My Resources  to see it under Shared With Me and click to Make me a Copy).  Feel free to change the version I made to better suit your needs with YOUR students ( ex. change the requirements or permissions for WHO is allowed to search on Flickr- see below).
2. You can view it from this URL: http://tf.trintuition.com/cshively/UsingFlickronWB . I will also add it on the sidebar of this blog for quick access by you and your students when you forget how to use it!

Some thoughts about using Flickr images:

• You can teach much more than technical how-to when you use images from Flickr. You can also talk about giving credit to those whose work is shared there. Note that this How-to shows you how to ONLY use images where the photographer has granted Creative Commons licensing. That means that you are using it with their permission for a specific type of use. Teach ethical use of web resources, even if you just think aloud as YOU do it in front of little ones.
• You may want to limit student access to Flickr, since the images are shared by the general public and can include content NOT appropriate for the classroom. We know that middle schoolers will immediately search for body parts or naked women. Avoid this by adding Flickr images (the SAME way as the tutorial shows) to My Resources, then sharing them with your class. At the very least, spend some time talking about appropriateness and consequences of poor judgment by students using Flickr in class. Many teachers believe it is better to teach and guide than to completely protect and avoid. It is up to you.

Can I upload and play a PowerPoint presentation on my site?  If yes, can you direct me to the directions or explain how to me?  And, if you can show one, can you show more than one?

Over the summer, we created a powerful new set of tools for managing student and school accounts. You can access them by clicking on the “Userlist” button in the workBench, or by going to http:tf.trintuition.com/mypage and logging in. Even if you haven’t added students, you can see the data for your own account. In additing to being able to see, sort, and edit all kinds of information, the new tools enable you to access and open all student projects.

On the TR blog, there’s a new post about workBench projects as reading lists, logs, and reviews ( http://blog.trintuition.com/?p=143 ). If you’re interested in trying out one of the options, mention it in a comment or post here, and we’ll give you more details and any support you need.

To make getting started with the workBench as easy as possible, we’ve begun creating video tutorials. Nothing quite matches actualy seeing something done. It’s a new initiative for us, so we would appreciate any comments you might have about what’s helpful in the videos and what mght be improved.

If you have a moment, take a look at several. They’re at the top of the Canvas Tutorial menu page  ( http:www.trintuition.com/tutorial/tools ).  By Wednesday (10/8), we should have two more videos up about linking.