Comment on Software Rubric Criteria

I agree with the potential rubric criteria that have been listed in postings. I’d like to add my opinions and expand on some of the comments.

Re: Support Documentation - this should be available for both students and instructors. I would love the opportunity to plan using the teacher’s book to ensure I’m getting the software package into the best possible spot in my class’ curriculum.

Re: Cultural Sensitivity – I also think consideration needs to be given to gender and different family composition. I also feel that I want Canadian content when possible including references, spellings and pronunciations. For pronunciations, I feel it is important to have those little sound byte buttons for students to use to help with appropriate Canadian pronunciations.

Re: Is the software current or out of date – I’d also like to know if there are plans for this software’s future (add ons, updates, revisions) so that our school/school board is making a sound investment

Re: Educational based programs vs. game based programs – Does it truly need to be one or the other? I think that some game based programs are educational such as ***. I agree that if it is game based, it needs to be curriculum aligned as mentioned in multiple postings. I always like to think of the theory of “flow” (Csikszentmihalyi, M.). I’ve borrowed this information from the following website: http://www.616.ips.k12.in.us/Theories/Flow/default.aspx
What is meant by the term "flow?" The state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter, totally unaware of your surroundings but enjoying the task and having fun while doing so. Where people are highly motivated or intrinsically motivated. Sometimes students understand the simpler meaning " getting into the rhythm of things"
How do we get students intrinsically or self motivated? By offering activities, (games, puzzles, manipulatives and other challenges in the symbol system) in the multiple intelligences, by getting them to understand they can have fun and learn at the same time. The activities are learning tools for them. This is a choice time, where they are in control of their own actions and decisions and they can gain some confidence by making decisions on their own.
Re: Surrogate teacher vs. Self-directed/Tutorials – The other David (☺) proposed that software should not be a surrogate teacher but should be able to be self-directed. Could these two concepts be at odds with each other? Sometimes, we need the computer software to be a surrogate teacher and our role is to enhance the learning from the software. When I’m in our computer lab with my class, I’m glad that some students are engrossed in a program that is challenging them at the level they need to be. This allows me to ensure that students are engaging in something that challenges them and it’s something that is appropriate. I don’t feel because a software program is teaching my students that I’ve abdicated my role or responsibility for the class.

OSAPAC

Visiting the OSAPAC website was an interesting experience. I had knowledge of the "Ministry Licensed CD" and understood that in many cases this CD was the backbone of many of the the software programs that we were using on our computers. What I didn't know was that the site provides some upgrades, and grade specific ideas on what to do with these programs. Great service, but like some good things, few people know about it and perhaps even fewer take advantage of it.

The board that I'm with has been working with a standard image for it Mac computers for a couple of years and is, I understand, in the process of developing an image for PCs. With all the discussion around "standardization" in education, I wonder if there will ever be a standard image for Ontario schools? If OSAPAC is made up of teachers and computer people from around the province is this an unreasonable thought? Does it make sense?

There are one or two programs that we have on our standard image that do not appear on the OSAPAC site, so I am assuming that our board has purchased the license for the software. It so happens that I believe it (Comic Life) is a great piece of software and I'm glad that our board has it. In the end if we are all teaching the same curriculum using the same reporting system would it make sense that we have access to the same resources.

Great piece of software...

This is the software application that I used for Assignment 2. Comic Life has been on our school board's standard image for Mac computers for a couple of years now. Basically it is a program that allows you to make "Comics". On Mac computers it links up with the iPhoto application which allows users to drag and drop photos into their comic. Users can also capture images from a video camera or iSight and place them directly into their comic.
The great thing about this program is that you can use the comic as a jumping off point for whatever you want to do in your class. Make book reports more interesting, great way to create a "How To..." chart, make the water cycle that much more interesting, demonstrate the life cycle of a frog or butterfly. I have recently begun to use this application with my Grade 5 class and they love it.
A little bit of research online turned up some neat sites that can provide educators with a multitude of ways to incorporate this application into lessons which are appropriate for different grade levels.

This is one of the better ones: (I posted the links below but they don't seem appear when I publish so I have also posted them in the sidebar)



If you want to test Comic Life out, you can get a 30 day trial download for either Mac or Win based machines.
Here is the link: