Week 5 - Bitstrips

Today in class we focused on an innovation called Bitstrips.
This innovation allows anyone to create an avatar and create comics. within creating these comics you are able to create your own characters and scenes.

There are many different kinds of comics that can be made with this innovation, they have different genres and can easily be applied into a classroom context.

The students are able to make their own bitstrips and their own avatars. in doing this they are able to consolidate learning of ideas or new information.


Teachers are able to use this resource in creating comics that may relate to classroom rules, literacy, homework and many other things.

The comics are able to be applied to many learning areas also. They are very easily related to creative writing and other forms of literacy.

This is also a social networking tool and students are able to share their comments with others.

I think that i would use this in my classroom but i think that it would take a few lessons for students to grasp some of the key ideas and concepts of how to use the innovation. but i also believe that students who may have learning difficulties or struggle in particular learning areas (such as literacy) would really enjoy creating their own comics and it would distract students from their struggles with literacy.

This is a comic i made today in class which related to something that happened on one of my practicums. i personally enjoyed using this innovation and creating my own comic. it is evident that this innovation has many creative possibilities, both in and out of a classroom setting.

Wiki's - Week 4

Week 4 - Wikis

This week in class we had a closer look at Wiki pages.
Previously I have thought that a 'wiki' was just like wikepedia - which it is in a way.

Wiki's are similar to blogs in the sense that they are sharing information to the readers about a particular topic or subject. They are not deemed as a 'credible' source of information - but are usually very informative anyway!

Wiki's are able to be collaboratively written. In class we looked at our Wiki pages for our innovation that we are doing for our assignments, we were able to add writers and contribute to our wiki pages with our partners. In this way we can add and edit pieces written as we go along.

We also created an inspiration document - which outlined features and characteristics of blogs, wikis, webquests and blackboard (a tool on our university website for unit communication between students and lecturers).

Week 3 - ED 485

This is my first Blog post for my computer class ED 485.
We discussed blogs. I think that blogs are used to share information, opinions and view points.
They are a good tool to use within a classroom set up as they would help students consolidate their learning, and sharing information that they have researched with their peers.

As a class we created a 'wordle' (www.wordle.net) about some key features of blogs -




-Rachel