Class Nine

The Book Creator Class Presentations were incredible, there were so many amazing ideas that I myself would love to share with my staff. Everyone presented meaningful ideas that can be used in any classroom. I cannot wait to see the combined book at the end of the class. From the presentations there were a few ideas that especially stuck with me as ideas I would like to take away and use myself:

• Sequencing Activity-create a book that can sequence a students day using text, graphics, audio and visuals (loved that you can pair different languages). This would be an excellent idea for students with behavioural issues or students with autism who may require this type of activity to start/progress through their day.

• Health Class- a step by step process of washing hands-voicing over instructions attached to visuals. Many students require added support with everyday tasks and this is a medium for doing that in a way that engages students.

• Family Album- this is such a popular activity especially in elementary classes and now through book creator not only can you combine all students work, but students can use visuals, audio and video (great idea) to show off their families.

• Creating Flash Cards- I really like this idea because I know teachers put a lot of time and effort into these and they often go missing or students cannot access them for cognitive or physical reasons. By digitalizing them not only are you making them accessible for all students, but also making them physically accessible at home and to more students at one time once they are shared within a program such as Showbie.

• Teaching songs- audio, text and images can be used to help students better understand the song and help them express their feelings when listening to the song. One can really go deep into meaning of songs through Book Creator as well as making music class more accessible to all students.

• Science Labs- I really like this activity because when I did labs with my students I always found we never completed them causing frustration from students as they work on them at a later time. By documenting the lab from beginning to end through videos, voice overs and images students can better understand what they accomplished and can [resent their findings in a creative manner. By incorporating Book Creator into the lab all students can have  a role in not only completing the lab itself, but sharing in the explanation as well. For example students who may not be able to physically aid in the lab can have a role in documenting and presenting the findings. 

• School Culture book- visual and audio. This is an excellent idea of how to show that everyone has a place in the school community. If everyone in the school had an opportunity to complete a page on their culture just think of the possibilities of discussion this can create.

• I loved the idea of creating a book in Book Creator as a presentation tool for curriculum night. This is always a night that confuses/frustrates many teachers and having all the information in one place would aide them in their presentation, but also make sure key points are addressed in an accessible manner. 

• The idea of looking at writing samples from each month, a record of how students are progressing throughout the day is an incredible activity for students to share work with teachers, classmates and parents. This can be an excellent communication tool with home so parents/guardians know how exactly their child is doing academically on a regular basis. 

• Holly mentioned using the stylus pen which I think was an excellent point because elementary teachers do often shy away from technology because of the writing component that accompanies curriculum. Using the pen is practicing their writing and can benefit/improve upon that skill while incorporating technology. Thank-you for mentioning this!

• I love the idea of creating a book centred around Job Interview Skills, very creative. This is certainly a practical tool for students entering the "real world". The links made to pop culture such as The Big Bang Theory when referring to body language is something that students can relate to and will learn from seeing a video like this. 

• The video references is brilliant! I think that this is an excellent tool for students to gain knowledge of who would be a good reference for them and why? Creating a digital resume is certainly something you can see as a thing of the future that employees would appreciate. I personally felt that creating a video/storyboard of what are their strengths and challenges is such an asset to students as it builds confidence. 

• What a great idea to replace PECS with Book Creator to present schedules for students. A digital schedule is easy for the teacher/EA to change/adjust but also can be very visually appealing and accessible for students by using not only images, but audio as well. 

• Math class should be accessible for everyone and having a tool like Book Creator for students would be a way to engage all students. As a Math teacher I myself have had lengthy interviews with students learning about their train of thought when they completed a task by having them explain to me what they did. With this tool they themselves can create videos with voice over to explain their train of thought during a task. By keeping this as a journal teachers and parents can view this on a regular basis. It can be both assessment FOR learning and assessment OF learning all in one activity/tool.

• I really enjoyed seeing how other groups showcased how you can use many different apps and import them into Book Creator. Chelsea and Christine incorporated so many different apps to transform their book into something incredibly creative……just another way you are showcasing how unbelievable versatile this program really is. My favourite activity was the Main Idea Activity, having students work with video and then explain their thoughts. Many students struggle with this, but having a variety of ways to express themselves can certainly help them with the process.

• I also really liked how this group showcased that students have options by providing them with either/or activities. This really meets individual students needs as they choose what activity they are most comfortable completing. The options available in Book Creator are endless and allowing students to choose their own path is key to ensuring accessibility.

• Progressive Activities-There was an activity in Math presented where students video their progression through a task is excellent. Often information is lost when there are multi steps for completing a task and students cannot remember how they got to the end. By having students document their progression they can return to a step when they themselves are confused and also teachers can view their steps to ensure they are completing the task correctly and meeting the required outcomes. 

• Older Students Teaching Younger Students-I really liked the idea of having grade 12 students explain transformations in Math to the grade 9 students. This is an excellent way to assess grade 12 students knowledge of the topic, but also create an informative authentic book for the grade 9 students. I am sure the grade 9's love having the older students explain the topic…..sure beats the teacher :)

• An interactive cookbook is a great tool for students, especially making sure cooking class is accessible to everyone. Including video, audio and images would be great for students with different needs.  I really liked the idea of including HOW TO…use tools in the kitchen.

• Collaborative class trip reflection is a great way to engage everyone. I liked how Michelle talked about how every student experiences class trips differently. Through Book Creator students can share their thoughts that can evoke conversation. 

• An interactive word wall is a great idea of how to make this classroom staple so accessible to all students in the class. Having student access the wall on a daily basis and add to the wall makes it authentic for the students.

• Using Book Creator as an exit slip is a fun way to be more creative with the task. This way students can use their peers work to further their own learning. 

• Family tree is a fun activity completed in many elementary classes. By using Book Creator it can be made much more accessible to all students by being interactive. Students can not only use photos of their family, but audio and video so that other students can gain a much better understanding of each classmates family.

When presenting to a staff/group of teachers here is a great video that reviews some of the key components of the tool. The best way to learn of course is to use the tool itself and explore its options, but this video certainly is a great starting point.