Epals and Me

The idea of being interconnected in this great world we live in has never been more important.

"The Way We Are" could be a great way for the students not only to understand more about those who are different than they are, but help them understand why they do what they do. Self-exploration is imperative to a well-balanced and well-rounded education. It is definitely a good place to start off the year with a class full of freshmen who are in the midst of self-discovery and awakening.

I would also use "Digital Storytelling" as an English teacher. It is a means to get the students involved in cultural pieces where they can build on the visual and create a story. These stories can then be shared with others in the class and with those around the world.




Photograph by GORDON WILTSIE

Photo from

Using Flickr in the Classroom

There are many practical ways to use the resource that is Flickr. For one thing, there are few "references" that can be used to visually represent or depict a topic that could be at the center of a class discussion. Sometimes the easiest way to get students involved in a topic is by incorporating different modes of teaching the same idea. Some students are visual learners, some perfer auditory guidance. Flickr can incorporate both.

By using Bubblr, a connected site to Flickr, one can make art from the visual representations accumulated by others. The intent is to build comic strips, but the idea of creating "literature" from a picture can vastly improve students' abilities at any level in an English class. The abilities to think, incorporate, and create are not honed enough at the middle and high school levels... this site allows for students to work on their own as much as they want... and it is fun!

I would be remiss if I didn't also say that it is a great opportunity for teachers. It is a great way to do a five to ten minute writing based on a visual comic strip or scene put on the front board at the beginning or end of class. The students can respond to the teacher's "art" or finish a story that has been started. They can find significance that others might not see and then share it with each other. The following link is my attempt at starting a story that the students can finish or comment on.
click here: My Example
It didn't take long to make, and it could start a great discussion in class about social norms.

Bubblr goes a long way to infusing excitement back into the classroom!