WAP: Student as Presenter
It’s easy to assume that as an early childhood educator, you will be “off the hook” for having to have your students create computer-based presentations. However, I’ve discovered that there are actually age-appropriate programs that students can use to create fun and engaging presentations to enhance their learning, and to share with their classmates!
Shadow Puppet Edu
Shadow Puppet Edu is an app available on iPods and iPads. There are tons of ways to use Shadow Puppet, but for an early childhood classroom, it’s simple: have students take photo(s) (or use the stock photos), and record their voices over the presentation of the photo(s).
For example, I can imagine using Shadow Puppet in class in the following ways:
Asking students to go on a “shape scavenger hunt.” Have them go around the room taking photos of, for example, five circles they see, and then record the students discussing where they found them.
Students write a story, take photos of their illustration, and read the story over the illustrations.
Have students take photos of a science experiment they complete and then discuss the results.
These are truly only a few ideas of so many one could do with this app. Additionally, these presentations can be sent to parents/guardians easily.
Drawbacks to the app include the fact that it’s only available on iPad or iPod, so if you have limited access to those devices, you can’t use it. Even in classes that do have access, many don’t have enough for each student, so you’d have to make this into group work. Which is likely fine for most assignments you would complete with it, but just something to be aware of.
Another thing to note is that this app seems especially useful for younger elementary students. Older students with more technology experience would probably prefer more sophisticated apps. Finally, as with any technology, and especially with younger students, it would be essential to keep them on track.
To roll this out to my students, I would choose a simple assignment to begin - perhaps something with just one image, and have them talk over it to get the hang of it. Then add more images as they got more comfortable with the app.
Here is an example 1st grade project from Shadow Puppet:
Blabberize
Blabberize is a super-simple and fun program that younger elementary students are sure to love. This entertaining program simply takes a static image, and makes a talking mouth over it, for which you/the student can record the audio. Let’s say your students were learning about a historical figure. They could find an image of the person, record themselves talking about that person’s accomplishments or life, and then blabberize it. I love this example of a project where students studied an animal and reported on it using Blabberize:
To roll this out, I think it would be really fun to record one myself and share it with the class so they get the idea. Modeling the appropriate use of the app would be essential, as I can definitely imagine a drawback being that kids could get extra-silly with this one. Along these same lines, a teacher would definitely have to create a Blabberized image together with the class on a smartboard, so they would see how to do it. The only challenging thing about this easy-to-use app is that it can be difficult to get the "mouth" set up correctly. After it had been modeled, a teacher would need to assist the first time around. Also, make sure your students aren't spending too much time on that portion of the project!
Shadow Puppet Edu
Shadow Puppet Edu is an app available on iPods and iPads. There are tons of ways to use Shadow Puppet, but for an early childhood classroom, it’s simple: have students take photo(s) (or use the stock photos), and record their voices over the presentation of the photo(s).
For example, I can imagine using Shadow Puppet in class in the following ways:
Asking students to go on a “shape scavenger hunt.” Have them go around the room taking photos of, for example, five circles they see, and then record the students discussing where they found them.
Students write a story, take photos of their illustration, and read the story over the illustrations.
Have students take photos of a science experiment they complete and then discuss the results.
These are truly only a few ideas of so many one could do with this app. Additionally, these presentations can be sent to parents/guardians easily.
Drawbacks to the app include the fact that it’s only available on iPad or iPod, so if you have limited access to those devices, you can’t use it. Even in classes that do have access, many don’t have enough for each student, so you’d have to make this into group work. Which is likely fine for most assignments you would complete with it, but just something to be aware of.
Another thing to note is that this app seems especially useful for younger elementary students. Older students with more technology experience would probably prefer more sophisticated apps. Finally, as with any technology, and especially with younger students, it would be essential to keep them on track.
To roll this out to my students, I would choose a simple assignment to begin - perhaps something with just one image, and have them talk over it to get the hang of it. Then add more images as they got more comfortable with the app.
Here is an example 1st grade project from Shadow Puppet:
Blabberize
Blabberize is a super-simple and fun program that younger elementary students are sure to love. This entertaining program simply takes a static image, and makes a talking mouth over it, for which you/the student can record the audio. Let’s say your students were learning about a historical figure. They could find an image of the person, record themselves talking about that person’s accomplishments or life, and then blabberize it. I love this example of a project where students studied an animal and reported on it using Blabberize:
To roll this out, I think it would be really fun to record one myself and share it with the class so they get the idea. Modeling the appropriate use of the app would be essential, as I can definitely imagine a drawback being that kids could get extra-silly with this one. Along these same lines, a teacher would definitely have to create a Blabberized image together with the class on a smartboard, so they would see how to do it. The only challenging thing about this easy-to-use app is that it can be difficult to get the "mouth" set up correctly. After it had been modeled, a teacher would need to assist the first time around. Also, make sure your students aren't spending too much time on that portion of the project!
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