Online Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities

Lesson Idea Name: Story Bird

Content Area: Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 4th
Content Standard Addressed: ELAGSE4RL1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the
text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text. ELAGSE4RL2 Determine a theme of a story,
drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text. ELAGSE4RL3 Describe in depth a character,
setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a characters thoughts,
words, or actions).

Technology Standard Addressed:

Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge,
produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.

Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using
the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.

Selected Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity: Story Bird

URL(s) to support the lesson: http://storybird.com/educators/

Describe how you would incorporate an Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity in your
classroom (Minimum 2 paragraph overview):

I would use Story Bird in my class to practice depicting images, making inferences, practicing storytelling, and
creating original work. We would work over one or two weeks in the computer lab to create their own
original stories with their own depictions on each page. Parents would be updated throughout the project on
student progress, and consent would be requested before we started this project.

I personally would really love to use the publishing feature of this project. When students know they are
going to be publishing something that many other people have the ability to view, they care more about their
work and the quality sky rockets. I want my students to feel like their work matters to people outside of our
classroom and the parent will also be proud of their children for having created such special stories that are
published.
What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a classroom?
Laptops/Desktops in a computer lab setting, and access to Story Bird website.

Describe how the following features are addressed in this learning experience (note: all of them may not be
addressed in the project, but most should be if you are reaching a high LoTi Level).
a. Collaboration with peers, near-peers, mentors outside their classroom and often beyond their
school: (type here) Since this is also a publishing website this feature is addressed.

b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (creating original data and or producing original
products as a result of engaging in a project): (type here) This software is designed to allow people to
create original work.

c. Higher-order thinking: (type here) One of the higher order thinking skills addressed in this online
project is creating.

d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their product: (type here)
Summer 2017_SJB
 Online Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities
Students do have the ability to publish their work on this site. Its a large community or readers,
writers, artists, and students coming together to share original work.

Blooms Taxonomy Level(s):

Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

Level 1: Awareness Level 2: Exploration Level 3: Infusion Level 4: Integration
Level 5: Expansion Level 6: Refinement

Lesson idea implementation and Internet Safety Policies: How could you implement this proposed learning
experience and still comply with your districts Internet Safety and Student Privacy policies?
I would use 1st names only and absolutely no other identifying factors when allowing the students to publish
their work. If parents and Administration is more concerned with that aspect of the project we do not have to
publish our work to get a good use out of the project.

Summer 2017_SJB