Rationale

Context:  I created this artifact in Integrating Media and Technology into Teaching CI 3750 in the Fall 2005.  With the help of three other students in my class we created and posted the pictures for the story picture sequencing activity. 

Impact:  By using the Story Picture Sequencing activity in my classroom I will be able to assess students ability to logically sequence pictures out of order and write creative stories.  Students will also use logical predictions (what might happen next) to sequence the pictures in the order they feel fits.  Students will also be assessed on their ability to solve the conflict presented in the story picture sequence activity.  I would also use this activity to meet technology standards and introduce students to Microsoft Word and e-mailing of assignments, as well as checking their personal e-mail to view a graded assignment.   Modifications for this activity are presented on the Teacher Page of the activity.

Alignment: 

• NETS-T II-A  This lesson plan includes modification for age and developmental groups.  Visual learners will benefit from the picture use in creative writing.  Students that enjoy using technology rather than actual writing will enjoy this activity.
• NETS-T IV-A  This lesson plan attempts to assess students use of technology through the use of e-mailing the final product to me and checking their e-mail for a posted grade of the assignment.
• NETS-T IV-C  This lesson plan meets this standard by using a rubric to assess technology skills used in the assignment.  The skills that are assess include use of Microsoft Word processing, Internet and e-mail. 
• NETS-T V-B  After students have e-mailed their assignments to the classroom teachers, the teacher will reflect on and assess their performance of teaching the lesson by evaluating student progress.  Assessment begins at the beginning of the lesson with the teacher evaluating students ability to access the internet, as well as open Microsoft Word and create a document.  This standard will also be met when the classroom teacher assessed students by grading the turned in activity and discussing with  students what they learned about using certain tools in Microsoft Word. 
• NETS-T VI-D  This standard will be met through a discussion of safety, ethics and proper use of the technology at the beginning of the lesson.  Students will be monitored throughout the activity by the classroom teacher or other computer teacher available to be sure that proper use of technology is maintained at all times.
• NETS-T VI-E  This lesson will meet this standard by using a computer lab at the school or taking a field trip to the public library where internet access is available.  Student that have computers at home may be given the option to do it at home but an at home activity is not required. 

Through the use of my story pictures, I allowed two students to work together to place the eight photos into an order that made sense.  I then asked the students to describe the pictures to me and explain what was happening throughout the story.  The students used printed copies of the photographs; given the age and ability level on my students, I chose to have them dictate their story and arrange hard copies rather than doing the assignment on the computer. 

The two students worked in agreement for approximately five to seven minuets before deciding on a final sequence.  The pictures were placed in an acceptable order that showed some creative thinking as well as a few stretches in imagination. Although the photos were not placed in the originally designed order, students did seem to understand the concept of story telling.  When questions on how another character arrived later in a photo after leaving, the students were able to come up with a logical explanation for the character's return into the story.  I feel that if I had eliminated a few photographs this might have helped with a more fluent story plot.  

You can find a copy I have reproduced of the two students’ story picture sequence and a brief description of their story and why each picture was placed in the chosen order.