This entry is related to the use of STORYJUMPER or PIXTON for writing activities.
To carry out this task I decided to use STORYJUMPER with my students on the 5th Grade.
First of all, I share the links for the Storybooks created on STORYJUMPER. The first one was created by me to get in contact with the resource. The second one was created with the group of students.
- Waris:
https://www.storyjumper.com/book/read/105922696/6090592983152
- The river:
https://www.storyjumper.com/book/read/106816196/6092f5f14aa32
Next, I write a reflection about the use of STORYJUMPER in my lessons.
Group
organisation
I
carried out the activity as a whole group and as a collaborative Final
Task between 5th A and 5th B.
Sequence of
tasks followed to get to the final product
The
activity was sequenced into different parts.
1-
We started reading a text included in our textbook.
2-
Then, I proposed them to create our own story using the vocabulary (brainstorm)
and grammar structures we were learning (as much as possible).
3-
Using the previous text as a model, we decided to propose 4 classmates as
the main characters of the story (acquiring the roles of family
members).
4-
We wrote the story on the blackboard, including the previous idea. As I
was writing on the blackboard they wrote it as well on a sheet.
5-
When the story was written in paper (as a draft), we divided the
different parts to be read aloud by each one, in order to have a narrated
story.
6-
We recorded the audio of the story, following the text.
7-
Finally, I organised the time for the computer to be used by the
students to add props and scenes to the pages of the book while the other wrote
the final draft to be delivered to me (in order to maintain them doing
something while I help those who were using StoryJumper).
Specific
learning objectives for the activity
-
To use information (brainstorm) to transfer the ideas to the
storybook.
-
To create connections in the story they are writing about.
-
To practice pronunciation.
-
To complete the Final Task of the Unit.
-
To work in collaboration.
-
To develop creativity providing the text with images and voice.
How the use
of the tool help the learners achieve these objectives
STORYJUMPER
helped the learners to achieve the learning objectives as it is a useful tool
in which students can portray their creativity.
They
work in collaboration, especially in the previous task, in which we did
a brainstorm and wrote the story as a whole group.
Finally,
I have used it to complete the Final Task, in which they put into
practice the grammar and part of the vocabulary studied along the unit
transferring the text to STORYJUMPER and they provide their text with image and
sound.
In what
ways was creativity and the use of imagination encouraged in my students
Creativity and the use of imagination is
encouraged in many cases: the ideas proposed to be included in the
story, the scenes, props and sounds included in the audiobook.
What my students enjoy most / least about the activity
What
they enjoyed the most was that they were the main characters of the
story. Moreover, they were very motivated finding the words they need to
translate in the dictionaries, as we do not use them usually. They
really liked to share the story with their friends of the other group,
each one decided which draft’s friend wanted to continue. On top of that, they
were very curious using something this resource as it is something new
for them.
I
think that what they enjoyed the least was not to work with the webpage as individual
or in small groups instead of creating one for the two classes but was
very difficult for me to control too many laptops at the same time (and
was the last week of the CEP’s course, so I had no time). Especially being the
first time using this resource.
What would I
change next time?
Next
time, instead of creating a StoryJumper with the whole group I would like to do
it in a different way. For example, the text written as a whole group and later
they use the laptops in small groups to create their Storybooks.
Moreover, I would like to spend more time, more lessons, creating the
activity, as I did it as fast as possible to achieve the task before the course
(CEP) get finished.
How were
the finished projects shared with the rest of the class?
I
uploaded the Final Project on Google Classroom, I sent them the link.
Opportunities
for students to co-evaluate and discuss the learning experience with each other
After watching/reading/listening to the final
project they write comments on Google Classroom. Furthermore, we can take the
opportunity to ask them what things we can bear in mind to do it better next
time.
EMBED CODES - STORYJUMPER
<div style="width: 480px;max-width:100%;"><a href="//www.storyjumper.com/book/showframe/105922696/6090592983152" rel="nofollow" class="storyjumper-book" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="//www.storyjumper.com/book/coverImage/105922696/6090592983152/480" alt="Book titled 'WARIS DIRIE'" style="border:none;width: 480px;max-width:100%;" /></a><a style="display: block; text-align: center; margin: 0 auto 20px; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" href="//www.storyjumper.com/book/read/105922696/6090592983152">Read this book made on StoryJumper</a><script>!function(){function d(){"undefined"==typeof SJMakeBookOpenLightBox?--c>0&&setTimeout(d,100):SJMakeBookOpenLightBox()}function e(){/in/.test(document.readyState)?setTimeout(e,9):d()}var a="https:"==document.location.protocol?"https:":"http:";if("undefined"==typeof SJScriptLoaded){window.SJScriptLoaded=!0;var b=document.createElement("script"),c=80;b.src=a+"//www.storyjumper.com/script/storyjumper-embed.js",b.async=true,b.setAttribute("defer",""),document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(b),e()}}();</script></div>
<div style="width: 480px;max-width:100%;"><a href="//www.storyjumper.com/book/showframe/106816196/6092f5f14aa32" rel="nofollow" class="storyjumper-book" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="//www.storyjumper.com/book/coverImage/106816196/6092f5f14aa32/480" alt="Book titled 'THE RIVER'" style="border:none;width: 480px;max-width:100%;" /></a><a style="display: block; text-align: center; margin: 0 auto 20px; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;" href="//www.storyjumper.com/book/read/106816196/6092f5f14aa32">Read this book made on StoryJumper</a><script>!function(){function d(){"undefined"==typeof SJMakeBookOpenLightBox?--c>0&&setTimeout(d,100):SJMakeBookOpenLightBox()}function e(){/in/.test(document.readyState)?setTimeout(e,9):d()}var a="https:"==document.location.protocol?"https:":"http:";if("undefined"==typeof SJScriptLoaded){window.SJScriptLoaded=!0;var b=document.createElement("script"),c=80;b.src=a+"//www.storyjumper.com/script/storyjumper-embed.js",b.async=true,b.setAttribute("defer",""),document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(b),e()}}();</script></div>
