Week Five...

ZooBurst

Digital Technologies 4

"ZooBurst is a tool that allows students to create their own pop-up books. Designed with digital storytelling in mind, ZooBurst encourages creative thinking through the marriage of visuals and text. This resource offers an alternative to storyboards in the developmental process of a digital movie, or a unique format for digital storytelling..." - http://teachinghistory.org

Users are able to create their own 3D pop-up digital storybook on this platform. This ICT is endorsed by the "American Association of School Librarians", voting it best Website for Teaching and Learning in 2011. Naturally this site encourages reading and exploring of students' imaginations, so this accolade is appropriate. I reflect as a child wanting to literally jump into the pages of my favourite books, and in ways this technology allows it's readers to do just that. The technology compliments each learning style as it capitalises on the tech components it features. 

At the beginning of the process, authors select whether to privately access their story, or share with people who possess a valid password. There is the option to make your story public, however, whatever selection chosen can be altered later. Below is a video I found to be valuable while exploring ZooBurst.

This enhanced learning for viewers is satisfied through exciting and unique visuals (often tailor-made), optional audio and text. It's menu interface features a prompted upload/select tool and takes it's author through each phase step-by-step. Authors can select colours for background, text and page - customising it for each user. 

"Digital storytelling tool that lets anyone easily create his or her own 3D pop up books." - ZooBurst

An additional advantage of utilising this tool as learning managers is it's ease to embed these 3D storybooks into blogs or websites, for example a Wiki classroom. Classroom discussions can be controlled through the optional forum of ZooBurst, which can be connected to each book. This produces a virtual classroom space where students are able to interact and deliberate. This tool gives educators a unique platform to engage their audience. Subjects are brought to life by literally popping out from each page. 

As a future Home Economics teacher, I have constructed a basic coaching/inspiring storybook. I have uploaded key guides on the construction of designer pieces. Students can watch and read how to design their own fashion samples. Although I believe where this tool would most profit secondary students the greatest, is when they're displaying their own projects and assignments. As ZooBurst advocates;

"...provides students unique ways to tell stories, deliver presentations, write reports and express complex ideas." 

Once their work is compiled, collaboratively thoughts can be considered. This analysing and reflection capitalises higher order thinking. A great read I found which incorporated ZooBurst with clever frameworks is Eden School. 

"Creating a collaborative book is a great way to use ZooBurst in the classroom...each student writes and animates one page. In the free version, there is a maximum of 10 pages. Students can work in pairs, or a second book can be linked." - Eden School

Teachers First has some exceptional lesson plans worth a look also.

Overall I found this ICT to be quite genius. It's unique and fun format engages it's audience and is advantageous to student's when designing their own work.

http://www.zooburst.com
http://teachinghistory.org/digital-classroom/tech-for-teachers/25322
http://www.ala.org/aasl/
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.edenschool.net/links/teacher-sites/zooburst
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=11092