Comic Master: Digital Storytelling

Comic Master is another in a long line of online comic creators that would be great for digital storytelling.

Supported by Reading for Life, it allows students to create their own graphic novel using pre-designed characters and backgrounds. The end product can be printed A4 size.

The working area is a little small, but you can zoom in and work on individual panels which does make things easier.

If you like this kind of thing you should also check out:

• Doctor Who Comic Creator
• ToonDoo
• Spore Comic Creator
• SuperHero Squad

Corkboard: Online Post It Wall

Corkboard.me is yet another online collaborative notice board / Post It wall. Like all the others it allows you to post and move post it notes on a shared wall. Embed images by pasting in their URL.

It’s very simple, and like all the others could be used for brainstorming or collecting questions or comments from a class.

Try it now at : http://corkboard.me

The market for these is getting a little saturated now, but it’s always nice to have options and alternatives.

Like this? Also check out Wallwisher, Primary Wall and Scrumblr.

JellyCam: Stop Motion Filming

JellyCam is a simple, free piece of software to allow you to make stop motion videos using a webcam. You can download JellyCam for free here.

I found it very easy to use. There’s very little in the way of whistles and bells. You hit the space bar to take another frame, and the software allows onionskinning so you can get an idea of how the new frame relates to the last frame.

You could use this with a webcam, a visualiser, or upload still photographs taken with a regular digital camera.

JellyCam produces a Flash Video file (flv) from your movie and even links straight to YouTube so that you can upload your finished video. I couldn’t see how to add an audio track – so you might have to do this in an additional piece of software.

You’ll need Adobe Air to be able to install it. Which you can download from here. If you’re looking for some no-frills stop motion software then you should definitely take a look at JellyCam: http://www.jellycam.co.uk/

Learning with Visualisers

Discover the benefits of using a visualiser with primary pupils, along with useful tips and resources in this handy video from Teachers TV.

This video shows how you can use a visualiser to take photographs, how to create videos for pupils to reference, and how to use a visualiser to encourage pupil self assessment.

Year 3 teacher and ICT Coordinator Dave Orritt travels to another primary school to get see how they use visualisers to aid teaching and learning. He observes a Year 4 teacher using a visualiser in maths and art lessons, including showing a video to the pupils, and using it to help pupils assess their own work.

After getting advice on using the technology from fellow teachers, Dave heads back to his own school to see how he can use one effectively in his own lessons.

E-Learning for Kids

E-Learning for Kids is a “global, nonprofit foundation dedicated to fun and free learning on the Internet for children ages 5 – 12.”

They offer free online courseware in maths, science, PSHE (Life Skills), literacy and computing skills.

There are plenty of online Flash-based resources here. Some would work well on an IWB (a full-screen option would be handy), but they would be good for independent study, with students working through them at their own pace too.

Looks very similar to Learning Objects

Mr Thorne Does Phonics

Mr Thorne is a Year 1 Teacher at a North London school. He has produced over 200 videos to help with the teaching of phonics which he hosts on his website at : www.mrthornedoesphonics.com

It’s an excellent resource for children and parents, teachers, schools and anyone teaching phonics.

BrainNook - Online Maths and Literacy Games

BrainNook is a new online game that helps kids develop Maths and English skills while exploring  and playing safely with others.

BrainNook contains over a hundred educational games based on fundamental concepts in Maths and English Grammar. The games cover Maths concepts ranging from single-digit addition to 3D spatial visualization, and English concepts ranging from building simple sentences to counting syllables. These games are embedded within colorful virtual worlds that children can unlock and explore.

In BrainNook, children play educational games while exploring virtual worlds, safely competing and interacting with other children, and solving puzzles.

In addition to Maths and English skills, BrainNook helps kids strengthen other important skills such as reading, reasoning, decision-making, analysis, memorization, dexterity and computer literacy.

For teachers, check out BrainNook @ School, an easy way for your class to play BrainNook together.