The iPad is a great mobile device for recording students thinking on the go. When we combine the iPad, Harvard’s Artful Thinking Palette, Harvard’s Visible Thinking Routines and the free Voicethread app, a plethora of possibilities become available.
Sign in to Voicethread*, making sure that the domain you are signing in with is uwc.ed.voicethread.com – if not, click Edit, then type uwc.ed.voicethread.com then continue to sign in with your @gapps.uwcsea.edu.sg email/password from there.
If you have trouble with this process, check this link for some suggestions.
(*NB: non-UWCSEA teachers if your school has domain, as ours does, you can edit this on the sign in page, otherwise log in as normal)
I Used to Think, Now I Think
Used when students’ thoughts, opinions & ideas might change over the course of a unit. (Click here for more details)
Students could draw and screenshot a picture that represents their initial thinking in a unit. Bring the image into Voicethread and explain their thinking. Follow up by repeating the activity at the culmination of the unit, and add to their initial Voicethread.
See, Think, Wonder
Sets the stage for inquiry. Usually used at the beginning because it stimulates curiosity. (Click here for more details)
Using a pre-selected photo, or one they have taken, create a Voicethread with 3 slides (photo repeated 3 times). Add narration over each slide – one for ‘see’, one for ‘think’, and one for ‘wonder’.
Below is an example of a See Think Wonder about forces in Grade 2 MLN:
Compass Points
Compass points helps you extend your thinking. (Click here for more details)
East = Excited. What are you excited about?
West = Worrisome. What worries you?
North = Need to know. What more information do you require?
South = Stance/Suggestion. What are your next steps?
Have students take 4 photos representing the four points for a given topic (e.g. current Unit of Inquiry). Create a new Voicethread and have students narrate over the top, explaining their selections.
Beginning, Middle & End
This routine develops observation and imagination. (Click here for more details)
Have the students look at pre-selected image. Get them to choose either Beginning, Middle or End.
Beginning – if this is the beginning of the story, what do you think might happen next?
Middle – if it this is the middle of a story, what might have happened before? What might be about to happen?
End – If this is the end of a story, what might the story be?
Create a Voicethread with the image, and have students explain their thoughts through a voice comment.
Claim, Support, Question
This routine supports reasoning. (Click here for more details) This routine might be better suited to upper primary aged students.
Claim – Make a claim about the image/topic
Support – Identify support for your claim
Question – Ask a question related to your claim.
Using an image that represents your topic, add a voice comment for each section of this thinking routine. This may be 3 separate comments, or 3 slides with one comment on each.
Looking 10 x 2
Great for observation and descriptive skills. (Click here for more details)
Look at an image for 30 seconds. Try and list 10 words/phrases you see. Repeat these steps again, this time trying to list an additional 10 words/phrases you observe.
Add the image to Voicethread and add two voice comments to the image.
Tips
You might like to consider purchasing a camera connection kit to transfer images directly from your SD card to the iPad.
Alternatively, you can email images you wish students to see to the email address set up on your iPad. The students can add the images to the Photo Gallery from there by holding one finger on the image, then selecting save to Photo Gallery.
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Credits
Magnifying Glass ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by Lanzen
Compass ( BY NC ) flickr photo shared by Roland Urbanek
Cuff Links ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by Oberazzi
Pale Blue 10 ( BY NC SD ) flickr photo shared by Caro’s Lines
Hey,
Lovely ideas for supporting inquiry learning. Have added the app to our Dover list. Keep up the good work !
Andrew