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     As educators, we need to realize that we are living in a digital age.   A lot 

of our students now have smart phones, home computers with Internet 

access, iPods and iPads, Kindles, and much more.   Some of them even 

know how to use these tools better than we do; which is a good thing 

considering that they will need these digital skills to function and compete 

for jobs in the future.

    But are WE preparing them for the future they will live in?   How much of 

your classroom instruction allows students to play with and learn about all 

of the digital technologies out there?   How often do you allow them to 

demonstrate their understanding through digital projects or Internet based 

research? As educators,   we need to come to the realization that if we are 

not allowing students to use technology REGULARLY in our classrooms, we 

are not preparing students to be successful in an ever changing digital 

world.   In this book, I will show you a few ways that students 

grades 1 to 5 used technology to create and express their learning.  

     For this project, I selected four students from grades 

1,3,4, and 5.   I then met with them one on one to explain 

what we were going to do, and to demonstrate the programs 

they were going to be using. I always showed them the 

examples that I had created first, and then explained my 

purpose for creating them.

    After walking them through the process of creating the 

product, I sat next to them and let them play.   I didn't 

intervene unless they had a question- one of which was, "Are 

you going to fail your class if I do this wrong?"   I laughed out 

loud at that one.

     The first and third graders needed a little more assistance 

than the older kids, but mostly just with spelling.   Other than 

that, they all caught on really quickly and were very creative 

with their projects.

How could your teacher let you use this to show 

what you have learned in class?

Blair, 1st Grade

Voki.com

Blair used Voki.com to create an avatar who could talk.   She got to choose 

everything for the Avatar, including:   hair, eyes, lips, clothes, background, 

voice, etc.   Here are some quotes from Blair during and after using this 

program:

"This is fun!"

"Hmmm, what should I have her say?   I could teach someone about 

shapes."

"This is so easy."

"My teacher could let us use this to tell someone about something 

we learned."

http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=6408395&height=133&width=100

Bo, 3rd Grade

MakeBeliefsComix.com

Bo used a comic strip maker to create a comic that would use words to share 

information. He got to choose everything for the comic strip including:  

characters, background, props, and the information he wanted to write about.  

Here are some quotes from Bo during and after using this program:

"I love this program! Can I get on it at home?"

"This is easy because all you have to do is click on the people and 

stuff that you want and then type in your words."

"We should use this in our classroom because we can type writing 

and teach others about things in a fun way."

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/

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