Rationale:
During the unexpected lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers were forced to move to innovative methods of teaching outside of the classroom. It was during this time that discussions were had around how to take a novel study online. Resorting to audio recordings of a small number of chapters (keeping with copyright laws), it became evident that there must be a more engaging way. Comprehension activities were also presented to students; however, in the form of a Microsoft Word document which provided difficult for teachers to upload to Google Classroom and share with their students, and also difficult for the students to download, complete and submit.
This resource focuses on the novel ‘Fish in a Tree’ by Lynda Mullaly Hunt and aims to unite interactive storytelling with comprehension activities to create an integrated learning experience that can be used independently.
Target audience:
Students in late primary school or early high school
Platform or tool:
This resource intends to use Powtoon to create animations that add substance to the telling of the story. The animations from Powtoon will be imported into Microsoft Sway so that comprehension activities can be easily added between scenes.
Given that the aim of this resource is to add to the learning experiences presented during online learning, it is vital that the resource can be used independently. Microsoft Sway allows for navigation elements to be added so that the resource is easy for students to use independently.
August 31, 2023 at 7:16 am
Siobhan, it is great that you are creating a resource for ‘Fish in a Tree’ by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. A book that is frequently used as a text in schools, especially for those you are targeting this resource to. Your reasoning for creating this resource is also valid, it is hard to study and read texts all together via virtual schooling.
Powtoon sounds like the exact software you need for what you are planning on creating. Microsoft Sway is a fantastic tool for you to collaborate all your animations with and present them in an interactive way for students. I have a few questions to clarify what you are planning with your digital literature. Are you summarising and/or digitising the story of ‘Fish in a Tree’ with interaction and comprehension activities added in? Or is the resource a separate entity? What are the animations going to be doing to add substance?
The resource you propose sounds like it will be extremely helpful for both teachers and students. I hope I get to see your final masterpiece and best of luck.
September 3, 2023 at 11:11 am
Hi Siobhan,
I love watching Powtoons, so I’m excited for your project. While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused countless issues for everyone, I’m glad that some good has come in education because of it. Many teachers have had to adapt their pedagogy and upskill themselves with different technology. Students in the 21st century require skills across a range of online applications to be literate (Leu et. al, 2011). ‘Fish in a Tree’ is quality literature and a great choice. If you’re not already aware, the author has recordings of herself reading the chapters in sections and answering questions on her website (Mullaly Hunt, n.d.). She also has other resources that you may like to use to enhance your student’s comprehension and enjoyment of the text.
References
Leu, D. J., McVerry, J. G., O’Byrne, W. I., Kiili, C., Zawilinski, L., Everett-Cacopardo, H., Kennedy, C., & Forzani, E. (2011). The new literacies of online reading comprehension: Expanding the literacy and learning curriculum. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 55(1), 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1598/JAAL.55.1.1
Mullaly Hunt, L. (n.d.). Fish in a tree. https://lyndamullalyhunt.com/books/fish-in-a-tree/
September 7, 2023 at 10:22 am
This sounds like an interesting idea, Siobhan, drawn from the pool of experience of the past few years. Your choice of tools is logical and offer great opportunities for creativity.
I would have liked to see some more detail about the intended subject area and audience, with evidence from relevant literature (including curriculum documents, potentially) to support your thoughts about relevance, and some consideration of the learning needs of students in the target audience.
I also need to point out that digitising and reconstructing a book into a new form does have copyright implications to consider.
Look forward to seeing your work!