Weekly Tech-y News

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Weekly Tech-y News

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Weekly Tech-y News

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Publishing Opinion Writing Using Apple Clips & PicEdu

Students in Mrs. Heringer's 2nd grade did a fantastic job publishing their opinion writing pieces using PicEdu, Apple Clips & Seesaw. The results are creative, engaging videos that tell their opinions and give voice to their stories. Keep reading to see how they did it!

Mrs. Heringer's students worked on their opinion writing pieces and drafted their writing on paper. Students used a graphic organizer to organize their thoughts, using the Step Up to Writing method, then wrote finished drafts onto lined paper.

Because students' writing was organized into four groups (first, next, then, last), we had them use the app PicEdu to create four illustrations for their stories. We allowed them to use web search, drawing, stickers or the camera to create their illustrations - our main focus was that students created illustrations that made sense with the words they wrote.

Once illustrations were done, we showed students how to use the app Apple Clips to finish their projects. If you haven't used Apple Clips, it is a wonderful FREE app for easily creating videos with lots of elements. Kristen Brooks has a great tutorial here. 

Students chose a "poster" to use for their title, then added their illustrations and recorded themselves reading their stories. We had them add photos of their writing at the end, then add music and share to their Seesaw journals using the export button (rectangle with an arrow) in the bottom corner.

Here are some examples of how these projects turned out!

Technology for Little Learners

Allowing our youngest learners access to technology is so important in today's classrooms. These students are digital natives, and many are using tablets and other devices each day in their homes. Teaching them how to use these devices as tools to create, make and do (rather than just play and watch) can be important part of their day. I loved providing my kindergartners with access to iPads as a way to document their learning, take pictures of their creations, and share their voices as they told me stories or read books aloud. Publishing this work to an authentic audience and sharing with parents was a beloved and essential part of our routine in kindergarten.

Teachers often ask me what some of my favorite apps to use with young learners (K-2) are. Here is a list of my Top 5 Favorites. You can see a more extensive list in this Participate Learning Collection.

Seesaw

This digital learning journal has embedded tools and allows students to publish both digital and physical work to an authentic audience. I love that parents can connect and see their students' work. Projects that students make in all of the other apps below can be published to Seesaw and shared with classmates and parents. FREE!

Classkick

Classkick allows teachers to create assignments, then watch students complete the assignments and give feedback in REAL TIME. This is awesome! Easy to create assignments from scratch or from PDF files teachers already have, as well as provide differentiated work to students. FREE!

 

Book Creator

One of the first apps I started using with my kindergartners is still one of my favorites. Can be used across all subject areas and grade levels. Allows students to create their own books including text, voice, images, drawings and other embedded items, plus publish to an audience. $4.99 (WORTH IT!)

PicCollage Edu

This kids version of PicCollage allows students to create collages using text, drawing, photos, and web search. Students use their creativity to share what they know. $1.99

Apple Clips

Students are able to make videos to share their learning using easy-to-use video editing tools, voice text, stickers, posters and music. Excellent for how-to videos or to publish research. FREE

Weekly Tech-y News May 14-18

Click the image to download a PDF.

Weekly Tech-y News

Click the image to download a PDF.