Larry Bruce’ Blog

Last weekend I attended the annual Michigan Association of Computer Users in Learning (MACUL) Conference in Detroit. While I was there, my students (8th Grade, U.S. History) had started a project that I have used every year since I started teaching. I have also changed it somewhat every year. Since the close of the The Big Kahuna, as I call it , last year, I have been longing for a missing element that I hadn’t been able to put my finger on.

My students had been studying topics in pairs from the Era of Expansion and Reform. Each pair makes a video to help explain their topic and a wiki page that provides a thorough overview of their topic. Student comprehension was lacking and their videos were sub-par.

One of the keynote speakers was Jason Ohler and he held a few sessions, one of them being “The New Media Narrative in the Classroom.” It was during this session that I realized what that was. Ohler suggested the power of the story and its impact on writing in the classroom. He offered examples and resources as well as slides and images that can be used in class. During that one hour session Friday morning I visualized how this may be the missing link. My students need to create a story that pertains to their topic.

I immediately went to work on compiling what I felt I need to use with my students to get this rolling, as I intended to start their stories on the Monday following my return to the classroom. Through the week I have pushed and challenged students to create a story that captures the essence of their chosen topic and the results thus far have exceeded my expectations. From a farmer in 1836 who buys his first McCormick reaper, to an Irish family struggling to start a successful life, to a young girl who wants to be a lawyer, but is denied the right to an education.

This week we begin taking our developed stories and adding visual imagery to them to make our movie. This process can be trying. The Web is full of misleading searches and less than standard content. When searching for an image relevant to immigration in the 1840s, you might find anything but what you want. Discovery Education and the several media elements available for students makes this easy and enjoyable. From images to videos, ready-made citations and easy search methods, my students will excel with their project this year.

Thanks to Jason Ohler and Joe Brennan for all that they do! I have made multiple trips to their sites.