Virtual Learning Network

Reflective Summary St Joseph’s Paeroa

Context: Literacy – Writing from visual cues and using imagination to create a story for publication online.

• Whole school initiative.
• Create for a wider audience for their writing.
• Thinking about the age appropriate language and material when publishing writing. 

Background:

ICT Facilitator initiative from request to assist with development student engagement and motivation for writing and to improve their computer drafting/editing and publishing.

Process:

Yr 3–8 students were introduced to Storybird – a story creator using real artists’ paintings.

The example in the link below was created by two 7 year old boys.

They were walked through the process prior to beginning their own story;

• Worked in pairs of their choice – so they could work with their combined interests.
• Choosing by theme or style of art from the collection.
• Using their imagination to create a storyline for their proposed book.
• Careful selection of individual paintings that best represented their intended storyline.
• In writing their story they were expected to follow the conventions of good writing.
• Language and length of sentences were dependent upon the audience level that they had chosen.
• They were able to rearrange the pages (limited to six pages on initial book) to best sequence their storyline.
• Final drafting and editing was required prior to publishing.
• They had the option of private or public settings in the publication process.

Yr 0-8 students were introduced to Little Bird Tales – book creators where students can create their own images through a built in PAINT programme or choose photos from their own galleries.

• For the Yr 0-2 students the programme was modelled with the students assisting in creating a class big book using photographs taken by a junior student of a recent visitor to their classroom – Perky the Pukeko – Matthew’s Pukeko

• Students recorded their storyline on the inbuilt voice recorder with attention to volume, pace, clarity, intonation etc
• Yr 3-8 students created and recorded their own stories/tales using their own art work or digital images/photos.
• Stories were published on class account.
• Students shared their published stories/books within their own classrooms.
• Students were shown where comments could be written by others to encourage greater participation and engage with a global audience.

Reflections:

• Students were extremely motivated and excited about writing and publishing their stories online.
• This was a great opportunity to reinforce the importance of Cybersafety and not using their names, but working through the class account, safe non-deplume and password.
• Students have shared their online books with their parents at home and several parents have created their own accounts for students to work on at home.
• Student voice: 
• "Can we go on Storybird everyday?
• "It is fun."
• "I have my own Storybird account that I use at home on my ipad."
• "I like choosing the pictures then writing my own story to match them."

Next Steps:

• Rather than giving free choice, books could be based around the current writing genre or school event/topic etc.
• Longer books
• Deeper storylines
• More senior students to buddy with junior students and assist with story writing
• Integrating this new skill/programme into task board activities during literacy
• Wider sharing with parents/whanau at Open Days and Parent Interviews
• Sharing at Cluster ICT sharing celebration day