tools



[| 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] - >
 * [|Bullying Stories] (K. Markwart, Athtbasca School)
 * [|Dirt Hills Field Trip] (M. Pardoe, Walker School)
 * [|Gr. 5/6 Goes Green] (S. McCowan, MacKenzie School)
 * [|Children's Poems about Colour] - while this sample is from a primary class it shows the beauty of imagery and voice

[|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.
 * 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)
 * [|Novel Study application]

[|Comiqs]- An online comic creating tool with similarities to ComicLife. Comics can be embedded in blogs and other social networking spaces or linked to like I have here. [|Sample comic]

[|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]

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 [|Smilebox] - a free download for Mac or PC - [|sample] - embed in a blog or link to from your class webpage. Some of the templates provide more writing space that others. Provides opportunities for eCards and online slideshows too. [|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" Wordles - use key vocabulary words, theme words or personal attribute words to make word clouds. Sample Wordle (from recent key words in research article about student learning in the digital age. Words that are added more than once, grow in size so word frequency dictates key words).
 * Photo Sharing Sites for Digital Storytelling**
 * [|Sample]- click "View as Slideshow" on the right side.
 * [|Sample]
 * And More We Didn't Get To But You Can Explore**

[|Shutterfly] - Produce professional quality books with images and captions
 * Book Publishing**