|
Technology Lessons Are Everywhere
Gayle Berthiaume, first grade teacher and Apple Distinguished Educator from Big Lake, MN, believes you can find a technology lesson to integrate with just about any subject matter. She especially enjoys class field trips where she uses district curriculum and state standards for increasing technology through writing, reading and science.
Gayle downloads her students' trip photos and observations into iPhoto software and just prints and binds them into Lintor book covers.
According to Gayle, "It's highly motivating-the books are the classroom favorites for students to read. They love sharing them with other students, parents and relatives. We also use the books as a thank you present for the places that we have visited."
You can find Gayle's lesson plans, strategies and tips
in making digital photography happen in your
classroom at this Scholastic website:
Digital storytelling projects |
"Trick" Students Into Learning Science
Dr. Mark Aschenbrand, 8th Grade teacher at Wagner Middle School in New York City has discovered a secret weapon in helping students learn more from their science research projects: write them as science picture books for 3rd graders.
"My objective," said Mark, " was for my students to learn about their topics. The only way I could be sure they  understood what they had learned was through their teaching it to 3rd graders via these books. It also helped improve their writing skills."
"The students enjoyed making storybooks instead of writing standard "term papers," because it let them be creative and use their imaginations. It was fun for them and they were learning without realizing it. They will remember more from this than from any research paper."
|
Teaching Teachers Poetry and Technology
Teachers, now it's your turn to get in on some book publishing fun! Gail Laubenthal, assistant principal at Travis Elementary School in Austin, TX shared with us just how much more effective teacher training can be when the end result is a published book.For the past few years, Gail has been conducting district-wide poetry workshops that incorporate various technologies such as using digital cameras, working with assorted software programs and importing graphic images. The last step of each workshop is to compile the projects and bind them into hard-bound classroom guidebooks.
"Poetry is my passion," said Gail,"and this workshop gives me an opportunity to guide teachers in ways to inspire students to write from their hearts. Integrating technology and bookmaking allow even more possibilities to unfold in the process."
Last year, Austin ISD purchased Lintor site licenses for all 94 schools in the district. In addition to Gail's workshop they have many other projects in place to motivate both students and teachers through book publishing.
|
