Establishing a Classroom Computer Learning Center K-5: Tips for Intermediate Users

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Eprojects Computer learning centers are perfect opportunities for creative projects that involve critical thinking. Using the following activities, try out practical ideas for creating powerful, time-saving assignments such as digital scrapbooks and photo journals that promote reading, writing, and content-area thinking. Learn strategies for using the tools you already have in new ways and have fun at the same time!
Activity 1	Explore Online Scrapbooks Go to Introduction to Escrapbooking for background information and resources on escrapbooking. Explore specific examples. Across the Nation from National Parks Conservation Association Anne Frank Center Scrapbook Camp Silos Duke Ellington from NMAH and Artsedge Evacuation Scrap Book by Yoshiko Uchida (Japanese Internment, 1942) Library of Congress Collections Voices from the Dust Bowl: Scrapbook My Chicago from Chicago Historical Society (Children) Mark Twain's Interactive Scrapbook from PBS (Activity Ideas) Nothing to Fear by Fear Itself (Grades 5-8) from Library of Congress Ohio Scrapbook: An Online Scrapbook of Ohio History, Sample Scrapbooks, Learning Resources in Scrapbook form Rainforest Scrapbook Virtual Scrapbook: Newfoundland and The Great War Weather Photos and Photo Scrapbooks from USA Today Wendell's Roach Scrapbook When Work is Done from Library of Congress Worthington Memory from Worthington Libraries WWII An American Scrapbook a ThinkQuest Student Project The WWII Homefront a ThinkQuest Student Project

Activity 2	Adapt a WebQuest or Lesson Explore one of the following tools for creating online scrapbooks: Coal Mining Tour Figuring Somepin 'Bout the Great Depression: Lesson Four from Library of Congress The Great Depression in Your Classroom from Library of Congress Fourth Grade Ellis Island WebQuest Geo-generations Scrapbook from Xpeditions Historian's Sources Lesson from Library of Congress Jan Brett's Scandinavian Scrapbooks Insect Scrapbook Life During the War Between States (Grade 5) To Market, To Market from Library of Congress Multimedia Millennial Memories Out of the Dust Photojournalism: A Record of War from the Library of Congress Quebec (Grade 7) Stitch a Quilt What Do You See? from Library of Congress When Work is Done from Library of Congress

Activity 3	Explore and Create a Scrapbook Starter Explore multimedia scrapbook starters. Consider building a Scrapbook Starter using a template. There are over 2000 multimedia scrapbook starters. A few are listed below. For more go to Filamentality and do a search for "scrapbook." Keep in mind that many have been on the web for a while, so they may suffer link rot. Try one of the following tools for creating online scrapbooks: Exploring China: A Multimedia Scrapbook* Medieval Europe Scrapbook A Scrapbook on Bats A Scrapbook on Butterflies A Scrapbook on Creating a Hero A Scrapbook on Native American Poetry A Scrapbook on the Holocaust A Scrapbook on the Past and Present A Scrapbook on Sea the Salesman A Scrapbook on the Scarlet Letter and the Crucible A Scrapbook on the Wretched Institution Space Explorers ToadGirl's Scrapbook About Frogs

Activity 4	Try Interactive Tools Try one of the following tools for creating online scrapbooks: Center for History and New Media Tools My Family My Scrapbook from Ohio Memory Bravenet My Chicago (print things out)

Activity 5	Photo Starter Watch the world around you. Reflect on your experiences. What are your needs and interests? What do you want to tell the world or remember in the future? What do you wonder about? What are the essential question(s) that will be addressed on this project? Use one of the following photo collections to identify a photo that represents a place you can't take your students for a hands-on experience. Consider ways it could be used to generate questions or enthusiasm. Paste the photo into PowerPoint. Write directions in the speaker notes area. General Images Websites Flickr - thousands of photos shared by people Google Images - searches the web for visuals Pics4Learning - thousands of photographs by kids for kids Teacher Tap: Visual Resources - links to visual resources Teacher Tap: Public Domain, Copyright Free - links to visual resources Textures - backgrounds Specific Topics Amphibian and Reptiles - great photos of creatures Ayres Adventures - many places CalPhotos - plant, animals, fossils, people, landscapes Library of Congress - use the search option Microscopic - many science topics NASA Photojournal - space, universe, technology, history, people Nikon Small World - microscopic photographs NOAA Photo Library - Oceans and Atmosphere Picture History - photos through US history TerraServer - satellite photos USDA Historical Photos

Activity 6	Big Ideas Use ephotography and escrapbooking to help students express understandings. These projects can help students reflect on the "big ideas" that often get lost in information overload. Go to Project Focus. Examine the list of options. Choose a project focus for a specific activity. Create a Word document with the basic requirements of the project. Create a sample project.

Activity 7	Adapt a Project Explore the following project starters. Then, • adapt the assignment to fit your needs • modify the assignment to change the Project Focus • create your own directions and assignment • create your own project starter Need Ideas? Explore the following PowerPoint Project Starters: Civilian Conservation Corps Rock Art Tarantula Scientist Chasing Vermeer Patterns in Nature

Activity 8	Thinking Focus Go to Thinking Focus. Examine the list of options. Choose a thinking focus for your activity. Associate this thinking focus with specific standards.

Activity 9	Content/Standards Focus Go to Content Focus for examples. Identify specific standards associated with your project.

Activity 10	Organization Go to Organization for examples. Choose an organization for your activity. Sketch the organization.

Activity 11	Create! Choose a Project, Thinking, and Content Focus. Need Ideas? How can students demonstrate their competency through an authentic activity? Key idea and details Main idea and supporting evidence Parts and wholes Real-world math problems Sequencing in all subjects Take a series of 3-7 digital camera photos that can be used as a "project starter." Or locate photographs online.

Activity 12	Hardware and Software Techniques Explore ideas for hardware and software techniques. Go to Creation Technology Tools, Technology Issues,Technology Techniques Explore Web Resources Online Tools, Electronic Scrapbooking, Traditional Scrapbooking, Educational Scrapbooking Like composing written work, students need to consider their subject. Shoot the same object many different ways. Paste the photos into PowerPoint. Use the speaker notes to explain how each shot conveys a different idea, perspective, factual information, emotion, or other insight.
\| Eduscapes \| Experiences Home \| Intermediate Home \| Blogging \| Eprojects \| Collaboration & Communication \| Created by Annette Lamb, 6/05. Updated 7/05.

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