John Vogels
Using an authoring tool that makes mobile-ready digital learning objects (DLOs) and lesson, such as SoftChalk that was used in this case, the instructor created an online writing and grammar course accessed through BBLearn on the iPads. The DLO gave instant feedback to students as well as being available anytime, anywhere, for students to practice. Students receive feedback and rewrites through Pages.
Name of Method: | Writing Improvement Through Interactive DLOs for the iPad |
Author: | John Vogels |
Apps / Tools: | Authoring tool SoftChalk, Blackboard Learn App, iMovie, Pages |
Difficulty of Use (1-5): | 3 |
Subject: | English / ESL |
Level (1-4): | 2, 3 |
21st Century Digital Literacies: | Basic Literacy |
Blooms Understandings: | Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing |
Gardiners Multiple Intelligences: | Linguistic |
Teaching & Learning Methods | Peer-to-Peer Learning, Broup-Based Learning, Review-n-Redo Learning |
Activity Time: | Varies |
Short Description: | Using an authoring tool that makes mobile-ready digital learning objects (DLOs) and lesson, such as SoftChalk that was used in this case, the instructor created an online writing and grammar course accessed through BBLearn on the iPads. The DLO gave instant feedback to students as well as being available anytime, anywhere, for students to practice. Students receive feedback and rewrites through Pages. |
Lesson Plan: | Following is a brief lesson plan: 1. Instructor creates a digital learning object (DLO) with SoftChalk for a course in Blackboard. It is a lesson on the given topic. 2. Instructor then leads a face-to-face discussion with the students on the topic, including review of questions presented to the class. 3. Student access the DLO in Blackboard on their iPads, via the Bb Learn mobile app, and study the activity and content on their own. As students are working individually or collectively on the SoftChalk DLO, The instructor gives one on one feedback to individuals on previous writing assignments. 4. Students then submit their work in Softchalk that gives the instructor information such as time spent on lesson, a score for short answer and multiple-choice questions and also the writing assignment for the unit to the teacher. 5. The instructor reviews and edits the work in Pages, and emails it back to the students to redo using a supplied checklist of items to revise. In order to develop the students self-editing skills. 6. Students then use iMovies to create a video about their writing and add the movie along with their rewritten assignment to their Writing Portfolio that they have created in Creative Book Builder (CBB). |
Other Notes: | Introduces new materials and allows for students to interact and learn with peers and receive individual feed back. SoftChalk is one of many authoring tools one can use to make interactive Digital Learning Objects. Others are Wimba Create, StudyMate, and Raptivity. However, SoftChalk and Raptivity create HTML5 DLOs that are iPad and mobile ready. |
Resources: | SoftChalk: http://softchalk.com/ iMovie App Store Link: Pages App Store Link: Bb Learn Moblie App Store Link: |