Welcome to the Digital Natives Work Wiki!
Hello to all!
This project is the result of a disagreement between myself and a co-worker. I suggested, during an in-service training session, that the 4th grade group we were discussing could produce a PowerPoint presentation on a specified topic. My co-worker, a veteran teacher, was shocked by my suggestion. She claimed that no ten-year-old could put together a PowerPoint on their own, to say nothing of a presentation of any quality or consequence. I was shocked right back, explaining to her that not only did I think it was possible, but that I had watched a group of 4th graders put one together just days before that very conversation. Isn't it obvious, I thought, that if a very young child can turn on, load up, and play a game on a Wii console, they could do a wide variety of tasks on a computer without much, if any, instruction? (Learn more about Digital Natives, today's kids who have grown up with technology, here.)
I created this wiki in an effort to demonstrate that today's elementary school students, who make up a significant part of the "Net Generation," can generate quality digital files for educational purposes. I am asking for your assistance in the collection of ideas for digital projects that can be used in the classroom. What do you get your kids to do? Tell me about your technology-infused lesson plans!
A few suggestions for examples:
These ideas may be used for whatever purpose you need: new lesson ideas, project suggestions/assignments, even as a starting point for an argument in favor of more technology support and use in schools.
Please help out by letting other teachers in your school know about this project, and encourage them to submit examples as well.
Comments (11)
Fred Mindlin said
at 1:39 am on Mar 20, 2009
Here's one of our middle school students from a workshop at the Salinas Public Library last fall:
http://austinyoutube.notlong.com
http://www.museoeduardocarrillo.org/html/biography/album/austin.htm
Elizabeth Bradley said
at 8:13 am on Mar 20, 2009
From a Classroom 2.0 forum post: "I have my kids remix historical images into new artifacts - then they make iMovies that unpack the stories behind their creations.. come see! http://thinkinginmind.blogspot.com."
Elizabeth Bradley said
at 8:13 am on Mar 20, 2009
From a Classroom 2.0 forum post: "We create a lot of digital stories. Early elementary students draw pictures on the topic. We scan them and insert into MS Photostory. The students then add effects and narration. We post them online as a podcast with rss feeds available. We also use audacity to develop stories with narration and homemade sound effects. It is used in Reading classes to teach imagery. It resembles an old time radio broadcast. We also use kidpix in the elementary schools. Our middle school has a television studio. We made a course out of it called videography. Student create digital video's in this course that must be based on a current area of study. They follow the entire production process of planning, storyboard, script writing/review, setting etc... The course is bascially public speaking and writing but they love it."
Tammy Moore said
at 10:14 am on Mar 20, 2009
Here is a VoiceThread by my 2nd grade son on the topic of fruit complete with 2nd grade humor and presentation style :)
http://voicethread.com/share/175522/
Elizabeth Bradley said
at 1:05 pm on Mar 21, 2009
From a Classroom 2.0 forum post: http://anotsodifferentplace.blogspot.com/2007/07/where-is-all-your-stuff.html (Ideas and files created by students)
Elizabeth Bradley said
at 1:06 pm on Mar 21, 2009
From a Classroom 2.0 forum post: Here is a comic (http://pixton.com/comic/w5w22ged) a pair of students created using Pixton in my 12th grade Economics class. The artistic element of the activity leaves room for improvement, but the creators clearly demonstrate mastery of a basic concept in Economics. Those of you that appreciate a good play on words will like this comic.
My students really enjoyed using Pixton. I will be using it again.
Elizabeth Bradley said
at 1:06 pm on Mar 21, 2009
From Facebook: I am not a teacher yet but working on it. I volunteer 2 days a week at Halls Elementary School in 5th grade. The teacher I work with has 25 computers in his classroom and is the BLTC.
1. We use remote control clickers to give tests, quizzes and formative assessment.
2. A few weeks ago he assigned a science project and the majority of the class made PowerPoint presentations!
3. They use QuizLab.com to take tests…each kid has a computer in the classroom.
4. Kids are able to blog on the classroom website.
5. We use the ActiveBoard for almost every lesson.
6. ELL students use StarFall
7. The students have access to their grades via mygradebook.com
8. They use Word to type their writing assessment practice papers.
Elizabeth Bradley said
at 1:59 pm on Mar 22, 2009
From a Classroom 2.0 forum post: Take a look at the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade pages of my classroom website (http://tommigriffin.com/) for some ideas. We create tables, newspapers, Inspiration webs, spreadsheets, charts and graphs, interactive PowerPoint quizzes, etc., all based on academic content area objectives, and now we're learning how to take screen shots of all that work to drop into PhotoStory projects for a digital portfolio.
Elizabeth Bradley said
at 2:00 pm on Mar 22, 2009
From a Classroom 2.0 forum post: We have been working on a cumulative Cmap project in which the students continue to build upon their concepts maps year after year. For instance, individual and collaborative maps made in middle school life science are added to in 9th grade biology. Math and language arts maps stay quite busy over time since the curriculum spirals annually. New concept mapping tools have come along since we started the project and it is a temptation to grab for the glitter of the new toys, but so far the maps are seen as an investment and the kids feel a deep level of ownership of them.
Nicole said
at 3:58 pm on Mar 31, 2009
Wow! I'm getting told I don't use power point enough in the elementary classes and I use it for at least one lesson a week!
Elizabeth Bradley said
at 10:18 am on Apr 7, 2009
From a Teachers.net technology forum:
"Here are some examples:
Word - adding clipart, wordart, and drawing pictures made of
autoshapes. Writing iconic stories, book reports, road signs,
weather report, restaurant menu, etc...
PowerPoint - making alphabet book, presentation about animals,
cities, holiday's greeting card, etc.
Excel - making calendar, daily schedule, weather report, collecting
data and filling the table, etc....
Paint - drawing pictures"
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