Just imagine!
Since I can’t have the elementary students browsing through Flickr I figured out how to overcome that obstacle. I took Flickr to them through a PBWiki called Just Imagine!
Christine helped me by graciously allowing me to use her Flickr photos in this way. Now bear in mind that I could not give her credit on the wiki because that link would provide entry to Flickr. Now I still believe that elementary students can be taught responsible use of services such as Flickr but I don’t choose to put my energies into that battle just yet. I have students who have places to go, blogging to do, and many exciting things to learn. So I want to give credit to Christine for letting me use her wonderful Flickr photographs on the wiki. We had a grand impromptu lesson today. I shared this in an email to Christine. I’ll share that part with you:
I love your pictures and it was so much fun browsing through the wiki
today with the students. Ooooohs and ahhhhhhs for all I think except the
mushrooms - dead silence for a moment there. Â I wish you could have seen
their faces. The assignment for today was as listed on the wiki. They
are to be creative and simply write a story. I had them choose a photo
number - first come, first serve. The teachers were enchanted with the
pictures. I told the children that I had a good friend from Scotland who
was letting me use these pictures in this manner. I then asked if they
knew where Scotland was located. One lad raised his hand and said in
Asia. I shuddered but not visibly. I had two up at the globe and our
world map and finally they located Scotland and I asked them to give me
more info - one said it’s in London. Another invisible shudder from me.
My, some days I know my work is cut out for me but we had fun and they
finally got to the fact that it was part of the UK. I do love this type
of learning because they will remember the moment today - your pictures
sparked an interest and I will follow up with more info for them.
Perhaps we can extend on this learning later after they do some writing.
I see lots of possiblities here but first will see how they do with the
first writing. They will bring either jot notes or something written to
blog about in class next week. They have that choice. They will insert
their picture to go with their creative writing. I also asked them if
they could make any connections to what they are currently learning
(from the photo). That’s a leap they are not ready for yet but I am
planting seeds.Â
Next week the students will be writing their stories. I can’t wait to see them. Remember that I am Mrs. C on that blog. If you want to see what they’ve been up to head over to Blogical Minds and leave a comment or two.
Just imagine what we can accomplish when we put our minds to it. Remember, turn those obstacles into opportunities! Small victories can grow into big ones!
November 8th, 2006 at 12:04 am
Hi Anne,
Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach refered me to you a few days ago for a problem I was having with a webquest. Since she refered your name, I thought I’d try to look up your blog. I really enjoyed the idea that you suggested with the wiki and pictures in Flickr. Although the school that I’m doing my practicum in has access to technology, I don’t see it used much other than in the actual computer class. It’s great to see ideas such as yours that hopefully I can collect for when I have a classroom of my own!
Also, I began to look at your fifth graders’ blogs. I have not left many comments yet, but I have enjoyed seeing what they have to say. Yet another great resource to prepare me for my career in education.
Thanks!
Meg
November 8th, 2006 at 12:12 am
You probably already know this, but you could also get images from Flickr’s Creative Commons Attribution pool that you could also put into the wiki (by the way, nice touch using the wiki). Its at http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons. Dave
November 8th, 2006 at 5:37 am
Yeah, but what’s nice about this is that there is a personal story of a friendship that has blossomed online between Anne and Chris (my mum) and THAT is what makes learning where Scotland is more important than in a typical geography or environment lesson. Anne - nice one. I think the personal touch in all this is what makes it wonderful but it’s also difficult to bring that to the kids all of the time - we don’t have time to build an audience and build a friendship between kids and their readers online so you’ve used your audience and friendships to show the meaning of it all.
November 8th, 2006 at 8:04 am
And it’s great to see my pix getting an outing in such a creative way!
November 9th, 2006 at 4:21 pm
An excellent idea and a possible way for me to use images from Flickr since our Firewall prevents us using it in school - must try it! Sounds like the lesson went really well and the kids enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing this with us.