Transformation

Redefinition or Modification?

Either way, I'm happy.

 

Here is the original paper pencil assignment:

 

Not bad, kind of fun and creative.  I think this student had a little help at home burning the edges of his paper.  :)

 

 

With Technology: 

Using shared Google Presentations from our Google Apps, the students started with a blank template and writing prompt. Blank Template and Writing Prompts: http://goo.gl/hTIOO  In the process, they wrote at the same time, edited and added multimedia elements including primary source images and music.   

Here is the ameliorated technology version:

 

 

Finished Collaborative Writing: http://goo.gl/bz7bg

The level of engagement was so much higher this way.  And, the process was definately more collaborative.  Without the Google presentation, the writing occured on an indiviual level.  This way of writing produced more creative and detailed writing.  The ideas they got from each other made the writing process so much richer. 

We posted the first pages of their presentations out in our hallway, so that families could scan the QR Codes with their smart phones and view the presentations.  The students loved that part, with the thought of them sharing all their work for an authentic audience.