Storybird is a fun and creative way to use both collaborative learning and ICT skills in the classroom. And we all know that even if I am unable to cement down any useful language content in a single lesson, I'm damned well going to hang my hat on anything fun, creative of collaborative we do. I know the students in my year nine and ten ESL classes this semester would have a lot of fun with this website, and hopefully we'll get a chance to look at it.
The downside of sites like this is that it requires a reliable internet connection and computers, which we don't always have at school.As a lot of the kids at school haven't got computers at home, and only touched one for the first time a couple of months ago, I may also need to spend a fair bit of time explaining computer basics that the rest of us take for granted. It's a far stretch from those private schools where iPads are a part of the booklist. Either way, even if I'm unable to organise a time when students can create their own Storybirds, I'm sure it would be an engaging and unusual way to present information to them, as opposed to using PowerPoint of Prezi.
Storybird gives impressive and appealing results immediately, making projects instantly rewarding and presentable. I'm looking forward to using it in some way in the classroom this semester.
I've used a similar program, storyjumper.com, in a year 9 health class. Students created a book to explain basic sex ed information to younger children. The students loved making their books! I will have to check out songbird because I think interactive story books make a great engaging activity and the opportunity for students to present information in a new and creative way!
ReplyDeleteYou make a very good point about the need for reliable internet connection - always a challenge with this sort of activity!