resources

Curriculum Connections - links to lessons from the Media Awareness Network to support media related ELA outcomes

[|Write like an Egyptian] - Literacy has changed over time. What's your name in Egyptian hieroglyphs?

**Writing on the Web with** **Concept Maps and Brainstorming Tools**
What is a concept map? “//Digital concept mapping is a tool used to describe relations or an overview of knowledge domains (Plotnick, 1997). It provides a visual representation using symbols, pictures, icons, clip art, and minimal text to depict a holistic understanding not easily conveyed by words alone//.” (McPherson, S., Wang, S., Hsu, H., Tsuei, M., 2007) [|Bubble.us] - Web-based brainstorming tool. Invite friends to collaborate. Spend a bit of time learning how the bubble operate and you are set. One teacher's [|blog reflection] on using this tool with his students. Create a basic account for free. [|Gliffy] - Web-based brainstorming tool. Click and drag to create floor plans, graphic organizers and more. Allows collaboration through email invitations. Save as image file and publish privately or publish publicly giving it a URL in order to link to wikis. 30-day free trial. Wordle - The is a word cloud tool that displays the various words entered into the text box. The more often a word is typed in the text box, the larger that word appears in the final Wordle. Use this with key theme words, All About Me wordles or in other creative ways. [|Make a Wordle]

[|Google Docs] - Create an account with an email address and then confirm account through email. Includes web-based word processing, presentation tool (simplified PowerPoint), a spreadsheet application and a survey/questionnaire application (forms). Access documents from any web-based browser, share documents with others, collaborate on documents, and create surveys and feedback forms for research, to gather feedback and many other uses. An Amazing tool! [|Zoho] - Web-based word processing, presentation tool, spreadsheet program, and more. Publish files to the Internet for sharing or save for personal use.
 * Writing on the Web with Productivity Tools**
 * [|Google Docs in Plain English] - A video showing the basic ideas behind Google Docs
 * [|How to create a survey in Google Docs Forms]

**More Tools for Writing or Supporting The Writing Process**
[|Google Maps] - Have students create a Google Account with an email. Not only can they use the productivity tools, they can create their own "story maps". Think about how your students can create their own Google maps to enhance their learning in novel studies, social studies, science, and other subject areas? Students can add images and links to other websites as they create their interactive stories.
 * [|Sample] (Click on the hyperlinks down the left side to read the sample story).
 * Maps can be made public or kept private
 * [|MyMaps User Guide]

[| VoiceThread] - > [|Voki] - Create a teacher account and then activate by clicking on the link within the email that is sent to you. Have students prepare their scripts and then take turns creating animated characters that speak their message. Post on your blog or website. *Reminder - without a clear writing purpose, gadgets like the Voki are just fun gadgets without clear academic connections.
 * [|Bullying Stories] (K. Markwart, Athabasca School)
 * [|Dirt Hills Field Trip] (M. Prichard, Walker School)
 * [|Children's Poems about Colour] - while this sample is from a primary class it shows the beauty of imagery and voice
 * Voices of the World project
 * [|Current event] - incorporating newspapers in the classrooms and blogging, this student shares a current event (K. Markwart, Athabasca School)
 * [|Novel study application] (B. Hack, Wascana School)

[|Comiqs]- An online comic creating tool with similarities to ComicLife. Comics can be embedded in blogs and other social networking spaces or linked to a webpage. [|ToonDoo] - Online cartoon creation program. Students can create an account with an email. Always a good idea to get students to create alias for online identity. We can teach media awareness while teaching writing! Create 1 – 3 pane cartoons.
 * [|Ecological Message Sample]
 * [|Sample]

[|LetterPop] - This works like a word processor that lets students build newsletters, posters and more from templates and incorporate their own text and images. [|WebPoster Wizard] - "Quick and easy online school projects and short reports"  Cool Tools for Schools - Web 2.0 Tools to help your students read, write, collaborate, communicate and create community globally

**Photo Sharing Sites for Digital Storytelling**
Requires teacher or student account created through email. [| Flickr] > [|PhotoShow] - Create an account, upload images, select templates, add brief text, choose from their music and done! __Limited text space is a drawback__. [|WebShots] - free photo hosting with a slideshow feature
 * [|Sample]- click "View as Slideshow" on the right side.
 * Listen to a Podcast from Wesley Fryer - [|Using Flickr for Digital Storytelling] (scroll down the page to "Listen to this Post")
 * [|Sample]