Document Sharing with Google Docs

Using Google Docs is a really neat way to get students excited about writing collaboratively! I think I would break my students into group of 2-4 to work on an assignment. Working with fourth graders, I would have to be very specific with my instructions. I would maybe create a checklist of things that would need to be included to be sure that I receive quality work from the students. For example, if I have a group of four who's assignment is to write a research paper about one famous woman in history in support of women's history month. I could assign one student accomplishments, another student childhood, etc.

One drawback that I see to using this program with my students is first and foremost my limited access to computers for all students to use in school. A second drawback I see is keeping all of my students on task. I want to be sure this doesn't turn into them wasting time and writing silly things back and forth.

This is a link to my photostory on Animoto...

http://animoto.com/play/EtP95nS7lEmgJ1qf1hxHLw

Movie Maker

If anyone is thinking about using Windows Movie Maker, I would definitely recommend watching Beryl's video that Carla posted on our class blog. It was very helpful and walks you step by step through the photostory making process. It really is easy to use!

Photostory Sharing

After looking through the different sites on Carla's delicious webpage I chose to go with Animoto.So I downloaded pictures onto my computer from our latest class field trip and created a photostory to music from our class field trip to the Lowell Mills. However, since the free Animoto option is for a 30 second video...the 65 pictures I downloaded obviously didn't make the cut. So I decided to also try Windows Movie Maker. I will post both of the photostories. Animoto was very easy and quick to use. However Windows Movie Maker was a lot more involved. It took quite a bit longer but I was able to include as many photos as I chose. I think this is a great way to share pictures taken of kids at field trips or during activities in the classroom not only to show the kids and/or to share with parents. However, I'm not sure this is something that I would use regularly in my lesson planning, at this point.

Check it Out!

Check out my wiki at:
http://fourthgradewithmrsk.pbwiki.com/