Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Creating my Rubric AR #7

Digital Storytelling Rubric 
In my technology class this week, were asked to create a rubric to score our digital storytelling assignment that we have been working on for a possible project in our classroom. When I sat down to begin this assignment, I started to hesitate thinking that since my digital storytelling project is for a kindergarten class, it entails a completely different set up, as well as for rubrics, we grade completely different in kindergarten. So I looked to teacher tools to get an idea of what different kindergarten teachers did to create an effective rubric for our students. Instead of using a number to score/rate their progress, I found it easier to use words such as below basic, basic, proficient, advanced. I then went ahead to explain what steps the students would have had to take to reach each point on the scale. Many of our assignments in kindergarten are based on portfolio, so we do not necessarily put a scored grade on every piece of work, although we are always observing and checking to make sure students are progressing. Also, since I am working with five and six year olds, I decided to make our digital storytelling part of the assignment a class project, so the rubric is only set up for the section of the assignment that they will be doing on their own. They are required to write three separate sentences and draw a picture for each sentence about their Halloween adventure. As a class we will use everyones ideas to create our class Halloween adventure. I loved creating an actual rubric for this assignment because it gave me such insight into what exactly I am looking for in their work. I also have something to help me know what they need to work on, and explain and show to parents when we are in conference or writing in their planners. I used a tool called iRubric. You can find my curriculum page HERE :) to review the project we will be working on, as well as my rubric (see below).


CATEGORY
Basic
Below Basic
Proficient
Advanced
writes and illustrates a simple sentence
Shows limited understanding of the concept
Draws a picture and writes words using phonetic spelling
Draws a picture and writes a simple sentence using an upper case letter and phonetic spelling
Draws a detailed picture and writes 1 or more sentences using an upper case letter, end punctuation, appropriate spacing
writes letters that match sounds and words
Shows limited understanding of the concept
Writes letters that match initial sounds in words
Writes the letters that match the sounds in words
Writes 3-or-more letter words
writes upper and lower case letters
Shows limited understanding of the concept
Writes upper and lower case letters with 6-11 errors or prompts
Writes upper and lower case letters with 1-5 errors or prompts
Writes upper and lower case letters with 0 errors or prompts

Friday, November 12, 2010

AR #6 Sample Digital Story - My Not So Scary Halloween

MY NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN
Our Digital Story Project

This week in my technology class we were asked to design an example of our digital story we created in our curriculum page. As I began this journey I started with a simple idea, not realizing how much would go into this procedure. I eventually found that I needed to re look into the real life factor of this project and had to revamp all of my original ideas. I love that I learned so much through this process. I realized by making this sample how much work and step by step procedure would go into the students creating a story. I decided to change from kidspiration to prezi, being that it was a more simple process and kindergarteners would follow easier with that program. I also found that this would be a better whole group project, and I would do this as a class digital story with their ideas all put into it. My sample would just give them an idea of what a digital story looks like and would help them guide me to creating our class story about our Not so Scary Halloween. I embedded the sample below for you to view as well. Enjoy :) 



Thursday, November 4, 2010

WIKI Curriculum Page AR#5

This week in my technology class, we were asked to create a WIKI site to publish a curriculum page regarding digital storytelling. Last week, we came up with a project using digital storytelling, and I created a Halloween story project where my students would get to create their own Halloween story. For this assignment, I changed my idea a little with regards to tips from the outside world, and decided that we would create our own stories, and put our ideas together as a class to create a class Halloween digital story! I was very excited to get to start my own WIKI since I have heard so much about them through colleagues and friends. I used the template provided by our professor, Curriculum Page Template, to create my curriculum page outline. I found this very simple to use, and loved the layout that provided links to each different page. For kindergarten, these would need to be reviewed as a class with the teacher, since they do not read very well, and would need guidance and help throughout the entire process. I loved how easy the steps were to not only create the WIKI, but when it comes time to work with my students, it will be a quick and simple step by step process that will be a breeze to swing through. You can access my WIKI page HERE :) to see what our Halloween story will look like! Enjoy :)