Finding My Inner Blog : Web 2.0 Tool- Bitstrips for Schools

Here is what I discovered during my Web 2.0 tool exploration for Bitstrips for schools:

Introduction: Bitstrips for schools is a web 2.0 site that allows students and teachers to collaboratively work on creating comic strips for school or leisure purposes. Bitstrips is a fun and educational software that promotes the use of literacy and digital skills while exercising creativity.

If for any reason you have any issue or need more clarification with a particular section from the tutorial; like how to login, create your avatar, control emotions or positions. Then click on the link, http://www.bitstripsforschools.com/help/ you will be directed to the Bitstrips help page, where you will find tutorial videos for most common questions or concerns.

AACRT Template: Access, Analyze, Create, Reflect, Take Action

Web 2.0 Tool- Bitstrips for Schools

Access: Bitstrips for Schools is a web tool that can be accessed by any and every student or teacher. You would need internet connection for your computer or laptop, you would need adobe flash player plug-in, and the latest version of a web browser such as internet explorer, google chrome or firefox. You just login to the website, www.bitstripsforschools.com and create your own account. Upon the login procedure, there will be two available options; teacher login or student login. Students can have access to this site at any time upon entering their class code. When saving various comic strips or other activities on the website, the content will be transferred straight into your computer’s documents or pictures.

Analyze: Any student or teacher could use this tool. I asked myself several questions while investigating this web tool.

- Who is the main audience?

- What is Bitstrips anyway?

- When can it be used?

- Where is this tool located? Where do we access this tool?

- Why do students find this tool so amusing?

- Does this tool educate students?

- Why do teachers incorporate this tool within their lesson plans?

- How do teachers include this tool?

I learned that the main audience for this tool has no age limit, students and teachers of all ages. Bitstrips is an online digital web tool that allows its users to create an avatar, which is a digital representation of themselves and incorporate that avatar within a series of comic strips or activities they create on their very own. Once you have an account, you can login anywhere at any time. Students and teachers generally use Bitstrips in class at school. But with this tool, teachers even have the ability to assign homework causing the students to explore this tool outside of class, and at home as well. Bitstrips can be incorporated in classrooms in the modern day. Many newer styles of teaching incorporate digital learning as technology advances drastically and is a crucial part of our daily lifestyle. Bitstrips is a great and efficient way to teach kids and keep their attention. It allows teachers to introduce ideas and work together with students essentially creating a classroom atmosphere where students help each other, contribute with their thoughts, and feel comfortable. Students love this tool because it is fun and easy to use. It allows students to exercise their creativity skills with the hundreds of options they could choose from, and with being the author of their own comic. Students also have the opportunity to work on their literacy skills as they are enabled to form small sentences to narrate their comics. Teachers incorporate Bitstrips during their lesson plans as supplementary activities to either emphasize a certain aspect within the lesson or even just to promote teamwork. Giving students the ability to exercise individual skills, give feedback and learn in a fun way!

Create: Bitstrips is also a popular tool amongst teachers due to its easy and intuitive style. It is simple for teachers and students to learn about and explore. As seen with my tutorial above, in a couple steps you can login, create an avatar and almost instantly start navigating through the site. The site has a welcoming vibe, it has bright colours, large easy to read words, and simple for students to understand. After creating your avatar you have a world of options in terms of what kind or comic strip you want to make. There are numerous settings like libraries, schools, parks, etc. you could choose from. You could change the colour or direction of almost any little object in the comic strip. You are able to place your avatar, your classmates and teachers within the strip. You have many options with what you want the storyline to be or even with the length of the story (number of slides). You can change any little thing about your avatar, their position; whether you want them behind or in front of an object, their facial expressions; happy, mad, sad, their outfit or even their arm and leg movements. This tool has many clear and easy to read directions; when you lift your mouse over the icon it tells you exactly what it does. When you finish creating a comic strip, you have the option to copy the screen (through tools like the snipping tool) and then save it under your computer folder, pictures. Or you can even post it on the site for your classmates and teacher to see.

Reflect: As a teacher, I would use this tool in my classroom and also assign some activities to my students so they could work on it at home also. Bitstrips allows you to create activities for your class in almost any subject; math, reading, science, history, and so on. I would most likely use it for each subject because it is an effective way of promoting teamwork and collaboration. Students can learn from and with each other. Also having visuals and activities in between lessons enhances learning and the comprehension of the lesson plan itself. One of the many examples of how I could incorporate it within my grade 4 class is making everyone start with the “Introduce yourself” activity. This could be done during the first week of class and allows students to learn about each other. The class and I can create our avatars, create a small introduction comic strip, and then they can each present their comics throughout the week, starting with myself. I would have a few students present each day, and by the end of the week we’ll each have a general idea of how the tool works, a brief introduction about each other and the start of many collective activities. Another way in which I would incorporate this tool within my lesson plan is when I’m teaching my grade four class about English-language arts. I would choose 10 words and write them on the board. I will then ask my students to choose 3-5 of the following words and create a very small, short story (a few lines) incorporating those words. I will then tell them to convert that story into a Bitstrip comic and they can later present them to small groups of classmates or the whole class. I will also tell them to be sure to use the facial and position controls to make their avatars more life-like and to incorporate speech bubbles. This allows students to exercise their literary skills, reading skills, creativity styles and also make connections to their surroundings. Another aspect about Bitstrips that I am very fond of, is the professional side. It allows teachers themselves to communicate and learn from one another. Bitstrips allows you to use the “Share Activity” section and visit other Bitstrip classrooms around the world, and to be able to see their activities and lessons. You can share your activity and incorporate helpful hints and advice to assist the teachers viewing it. This gives lesson plan ideas to fellow teachers and expands the horizon of teachers around the world. I also like that anyone can truly express themselves using this tool. Your avatar has the ability to look exactly like you or to even be completely different, it could be anything you feel represents you. I like the sense of individuality the user has. Your avatar can be placed in any situation, and react any way you’d like. I personally, will ensure I create my very own template of most activities I assign; this shows the students that I am also a learner as they are. They can learn about me and thus, feel a higher sense of comfort and care within my classroom atmosphere. This web 2.0 tool is an interactive, easy extended learning tool which allows students to exercise various learning styles and lifelong learning skills.

Take Action: I would use this tool for both personal and professional purposes. I would share things about myself with my students and fellow teachers, as they would as well. My Bitstrips will be fun, and easy to comprehend as my main audience is my students and I want to enhance their learning abilities. Bitstrips is a safe digital tool and I have the option whether or not I want to share our class activities with others. It could only be accessed through the students with the course code or myself, their teacher. It also encourages safe internet use as the students create an icon that represents themselves, reducing the chances of them using their real photos amongst the internet. They are even able to give their avatars their own made-up name which reduces potential safety and privacy issues. I definitely plan on utilizing this web 2.0 tool in my teaching career, I will create a teacher’s account for each of my classes, showing them how to login and create their avatars and together, my classes and I will explore this tool and boost our learning capabilities.

Bibliography:

Educational Software. Bitstrips for Schools In Action, n.p. Web. 30 September 2015.

Here is an up-close look at my digital avatar. My avatar is how I digitally represent myself. It is a great way to have an online image without actually using a real picture of yourself. Your avatar can be anything you want it to be! Try making your own avatar using this web tool and let your creative juices flow!