After playing around with Slide Rocket for the majority of the first week in class, and creating my TPAK journey, I really started to gain an appreciation for how valuable this resource is. I found that if I ever tried to add audio to powerpoint, I found that it never really matched my expectations, because powerpoint doesn't "read" the same way as an eBook can. Also, I found that the animation and effects on Slide Rocket were much more engaging and frankly interesting than the ones that I have become accustomed to in powerpoint.
I have come to the realization that eBooks are a really unique way for students to create a summative task at the end of a unit of study. For example, if students are in the middle of a unit on "heroes", they can create an eBook to research and present their own hero as a story, rather than writing a report or giving a speech. This allows them to show off their creativity, use their personal voice, add pictures and videos, keep the audience engaged and even cut a clip from their favourite song. I plan to use eBooks in my class for the purpose of sharing information in an interactive way, of course, where age and grade level allow.
When teaching students to use eBooks, I would start with the basics. I am a strong believer that you need to convince students that what they are learning is important to them, and in such, they will not only be engaged participants, but also be able to use these strategies in other ways. Such as:
- what is an eBook?
- why should we care about eBooks?
- what can they do for us?
What I love the most about eBooks, is that they read and present just like an actual book. They are therefore very personalized and a student's opportunity to be creative can really shine through, while still maintaining those academic standards that are required for assessment. If I have learned anything at Brock, it is that no one learns to same way, and that there is no continuum in the way we absorb information. In some subjects I an am audio learner, and in others I am visual. I believe resources such as Slide Rocket beautifully cater to the multiple intelligences, and I think that is what makes it such a powerful tool.
When teaching students to use eBooks, I would start with the basics. I am a strong believer that you need to convince students that what they are learning is important to them, and in such, they will not only be engaged participants, but also be able to use these strategies in other ways. Such as:
- what is an eBook?
- why should we care about eBooks?
- what can they do for us?
What I love the most about eBooks, is that they read and present just like an actual book. They are therefore very personalized and a student's opportunity to be creative can really shine through, while still maintaining those academic standards that are required for assessment. If I have learned anything at Brock, it is that no one learns to same way, and that there is no continuum in the way we absorb information. In some subjects I an am audio learner, and in others I am visual. I believe resources such as Slide Rocket beautifully cater to the multiple intelligences, and I think that is what makes it such a powerful tool.
I am very proud of what I created, and I hope that it inspires you to stop and think about what, or who, is important in your life.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
