So, when I'm spending the 20% of my time exploring something new, it will be with the possibility of making something in community and for community.
My first idea would be to create graphic novels - a really, really simplified version by someone who's not a talented artist.
I've always loved reading, but a lot of my students don’t. According to a learning styles inventory, a great deal of them are visual learners. It saddens me that when they read a text, they aren’t able to visualize it and imagine it. That barrier prevents them from fully engaging in a text, I think. Although I would like for them to be able to make a world out of their imagination and what they read, they might not all have that ability. Also, I think graphic novels could be great for my students who are English learners; they can get a visual of the words they see on the page. I love some comic book heroes, but most comics are so ridiculous and demeaning to women, I’d rather like to put my own twist on the genre and make it meaningful for my students. |
- Is there a difference between graphic novels and comic books? (Are novels just… longer? I should probably know this already)
- It’s better to do this through a site or app than by hand, right? ...assuming that something exists that could fit what I want.
- Which site or app will meet my needs? (Simplicity, aesthetic appeal, plenty of room for text)
- How much time might it take for me to make a graphic novel? It seems pretty intensive, so would I be able to realistically do this especially with multiple works?
- How would I give students access to the works? Read them through an app on a device, assuming that it’s a school with Chromebooks or other devices? Do comic book creation apps allow unlimited access to comics?
- What support exists to help me on this journey? e.g., forums? Are there people who can help me figure out what to do & how?
- Which texts would be best to adapt into graphic novels for English learners?
- What literary texts have already been adapted? (e.g., Pride and Prejudice probably has, maybe Dracula - anything that’s more relevant to my learners’ lives?)
- Is there a new story I can make to engage my English learners based on their interests? (e.g., a story about a soccer player)
- Will I be really able to use graphic novels in a class? How am I going to justify this to parents and administrators? (Good for… anticipatory set, differentiation, translation, choice reading…)
My next idea would be HTML coding. I could use it to edit my website here, or a classroom website, to make sure my students can access the necessary information in a way that's visually appealing.
Inquiry questions:
- What would be the best site for me to use to edit the HTML of pre-made templates, or to make my own templates, for free?
- What would students find most visually appealing on a site?
- What exactly do I want to edit about my site that would make it worthwhile to learn HTML?
- What would be the best and most welcoming forum for me to get help figuring out problems with the HTML coding I will be doing?
- Which free sites, programs, and YouTube videos will be the beset to teach me how to code with HTML? (The kind that I want to do?)
- What other kinds of coding might I need to know in order to use HTML?
- Which HTML/coding skills can I teach to my students in-class and how can I align them with standards?
- Can I use coding to help my students create websites of their own as a place to store authentic projects and learn technological literacy?
I hope by next week, I can decide which project I want to continue, and I can start my journey!