New Tool for Students: Storybird

I just found a new tool for students--Storybird.  Students create narrative short stories based on a visual and collaborate on the story with friends.  I have not yet begun to use the tool, but you should check out the cool stories posted by students.  I think the key here is "students" are the creators.  I have not had time to explore, but it appears to cater to K-8.

A new literacy tool for a new generation

"Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories that are curiously fun to make, share, and read. Teachers love them because they inspire their most reluctant writers and readers and reward their most adventurous. Kids adore them because they feel empowered by the tools and supported by the social feedback."

Social Media Revolution 2011

How Finland became an education leader

How Finland became an education leader

The final point of the article really hit home:
"How did Finland manage to elevate the role of teacher in the eyes of the population to something that is not just an honorable profession, but a revered profession, whereas in the United States, teachers are so regularly denigrated?"

"They really think about teachers as scientists and the classrooms are their laboratories. So, as I mentioned -- every teacher has to have a masters degree, and it's a content degree where they're not just taking silly courses on education theory and history. They're taking content courses that enable them to bring a higher level of intellectual preparation into the classroom. That's the first point.

The second point is that they've defined professionalism as working more collaboratively. They give their teachers time in the school day and in the school week to work with each other, to continuously improve their curriculum and their lessons. We have a 19th century level of professionalism here, or worse, it's medieval. A teacher works alone all day, everyday, and isolation is the enemy of improvement and innovation, which is something the Finns figured out a long time ago. Get the teachers out of their isolated circumstances and give them time to work together."

Web 2.0 and Blooms

This Bloom's triangle says it all.  Click on any of the links.

Google vs. Wikis

Google is probably the reason I was hesitant to use wikis.  Google is very user friendly, and through our district Google mail, sites, documents, and calendars we can have more privacy, which is often important when collaborating with students.  During the summer of  2008 when our district began Google mail, I began to "play" with Google using my personal gmail account.  When school opened I was ready with websites and documents.  It is now 2011 and I am still trying to have staff (administrators and teachers) buy into  using Google anything; most are still stuck on Google mail, and even that is used ineffectively.   

The biggest drawback for Google is using the discussion tool on Google sites, which is not user friendly.  So, when Google groups was set up for our district in the summer of 2010 I was excited and established a few groups.  Now we have to ask permission, and from my experience it takes too long.  When all else fails, use the regular gmail, where there are no restrictions.  

Collaboration via Google docs appears to be a great tool.  I have attempted to use the tool with several groups, with little success.  I think people are afraid, perhaps of losing information?    I upload everything to do with my professional obligations to Google.  I ask students, both adult and adolescent learners to use Google, but many resist.  One problem I have encountered using Google within the district is that when I invite non district persons to collaborate, even with permission, it never seems to work.  This is where wikis or personal Google would work better.

If I were to pick the winner for collaboration tools, I have a difficult choice.  Google is simple and I have used it so frequently it is second nature.  However, wikis are easier to access when outside the network, and the collaboration and discussion tools appear to be more utilitarian.