I should add (and feel I neglected) some details.....

....with Comic Life. Many of my students did quite a bit of internet research and had to discover the best ways to find images. Those that needed certain images had to figure out how to refine their search with either google or another search engine or a way to expedite the whole process so their project could go forward quickly since we had the computers for a limited amount of time. I learned many things watching them and assisting. Once students found what they were looking for everything ran much smoother and they (as well as I) learned to keep track of what they were doing and where on the internet.

ELM resources

Adding more things to read from ELM, hmmmmm I don't know how useful this was. I quit receiving 3 professional second language publications because I don't have time to read them and they became repetitive. So since I couldn't think of anything I really wanted to receive info on, I elected to try second language acquisition again. But I really don't want that either. If I wanted info, Elm might be useful, but at this point in time I don't know. When I need something I will have forgotten how to use it I am sure.

Spreading the word!

I have been showing off my students' Comic Life projects to various teachers in the building who I think could use the program. The projects aren't perfect but what student work ever is? It was my first time as well as theirs theirs and well worth the effort. A few students did iMovie and that is a different animal. I think more time was necessary for completion since my students didn't know the program to start and neither did I. It is a more difficult program. I was able to learn Comic Life fairly quickly. The Japanese teacher definitely, with Manga being a big theme, liked it. An English teacher with a graphic novel unit in 10th grade was very interested and is considering signing up for the computer carts. I am interested in having some Macs with Comic Life for my use at any time because I can see using Comic Life for lots of different writing projects in Spanish, for the various levels. I am exploring different grant options to snag a few.

Searching with google en español

Very easy! Enter recetas-recipes-in the search line and millions of hits in Spanish and English show up. This is my next endeavor with Spanish 3. So in this case google is the best bet. But I will ask them to try the St. Paul resources because there is a great data base also with a collection of recipes that highlight the 3 verb forms different countries use to present recipes-infinitive, command, and passive voice. It will be easy for them to find sources but for them to find something they want to use will be the key. It should be a fun unit.

How is that project going?

Well, as with any new project I am discovering how I could have done more planning to make the project run smoother. Many, many kudos to Leslie who suggested it and helped make it possible. Most of my students have enjoyed the process of working on computers, rather than paper and pencil or markers. Students who have finished in the two weeks alloted were those who used their time well and did not set their bar too high. I found I also had to revise my bar-not necessarily lower but become more realistic with what is possible with comic life versus iMovie. Too much writing ruins Comic Life, but there is a way to write and not be overly simplistic. iMovie, if dialog is involved, will by it's very nature involve more speech so more writing is involved. The technology has been irritating at times but we, my students and myself have become problem solvers extraordinare!!!!!