Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. We understand that and have brought together some technology integration projects and activities that engendered student creativity and empowerment. Each one incorporates a different type of multimedia.
- “Great Debate of 2008” Tom created a wiki and a private online social network for the “Great Debate of 2008” project, a student exploration and discussion of issues and candidates surrounding the 2008 presidential election. The project connected students around the country in a wiki and a private online social network to share information and ideas related to the election. Students posted information on campaign issues to the wiki and partook in online discussions and surveys with other students in the private online social network.
- Math Mov!es Trailers This is a creative and lively student-produced website that employs humorous student-created videos to motivate and engage students in the study of mathematics. Kids gain a deeper understanding of how mathematics is part of our daily life through topical and enjoyable stories.
- Student News Action Network This student-produced current events journal features contributions from around the world and is led by five student-bureaus: The American School of Doha, Bishops Diocesan College, International School Bangkok, International School of Luxembourg, and Washington International School. The students have cleverly adopted the free Ning platform, and far-flung students work collaboratively to create an interactive, multimedia-rich, and student-driven online newspaper.
- Who am I? Middle school students create brief but lively presentations about themselves that touch upon genealogy and family history. In this creative self-expression project, students mesh art, writing, and storytelling, to communicate their stories.
- Henry IV This high school wiki features creative student-produced content, including a “Henry IV rap,” a “Henry IV” poem, a radio show, movies, charts, a slideshow, and more. Students provide a much information about the Shakespearean world and do so in an engaging way that addresses varied learning styles.
- Extreme Biology This middle school science blog provides students with an opportunity to showcase their scientific knowledge and interests. The blog stories are student produced, and it appears that the entire class is having lots of fun while learning a lot!
- The Flat Classroom Project The award-winning Flat Classroom project brings together high school and middle school students from around the world to explore the ideas presented in Thomas Friedman’s book The World is Flat. These collaborative projects harness the most powerful Web 2.0 tools available, including wikis, online social networks, digital storytelling, podcasts, social bookmarking, and more.
- Lead Portal — Bringing out the Leader in You! This award winning and student created website allows youths to explore various leadership theories and features interviews, activities and assessment tools.
- Mrs. Yollis’s Classroom blog Mrs. Yollis is a third grade teacher who incorporates images, interactive multimedia, and student-produced content to create a lively, informative, and engaging classroom blog.