Sunday, April 18, 2010

2K Ted Harrison Project: An Inuit Study

2K has just completed a technology infused project combining original digital artwork in the styling of Ted Harrison, social studies research, language arts writing skills and their recorded voice. For an introduction to the VoiceThread Web 2.0 tool, please visit the following link:
Introduction to VoiceThread

To view a full screen version of this VoiceThread and read visitor comments posted for 2K through the tool, please visit the following link:
2K Ted Harrison Project



Sturgeon School Division has been promoting research-based instructional practices to improve student learning. One area of focus is Assessment for Learning (AfL). In this process, both students and teachers worked together to achieve targeted learning outcomes. This AfL learning journey was infused by the wonders of technology.

This Ted Harrison Project provided the students a purposeful opportunity to share their learning with local and global friends. The students were guided by the Big Question: How do (did) the Inuit adapt to the Arctic? An introduction was made using a previous VoiceThread project. Our class was fueled with enthusiasm. After each child had decided on a topic of interest to address, we studied the remarkable artwork of Ted Harrison on the Internet. The experience was magnified by the use of our Promethean board. Noting the patterns, our class established criteria as to what their art should target:


We analyzed and discussed how best to apply our KidPix skills to create the visuals. While the children experimented with the KidPix drawing tools for appropriate effects, they collected information relevant to their presentation. By assessing examples of grade level VoiceThreads, they determined the criteria for their content and presentation. In AfL, these powerful conversations enable students to understand “quality” and their own capacity to improve. Essentially, the children’s choice and voice scripted the teaching. The on-going references to where “we’re at” and “where we’re going” uncovered instructional needs. When students are involved in the assessment process, they take on ownership of their learning and progress.

Ms. Kwan


Ted Harrison is a Canadian treasure who is an author, artist and teacher. Harrison's work is displayed in art galleries and private collections worldwide. He is also well-known for his best selling illustrative books including The Cremation of Sam McGee. For further biographical information and illustrative examples, visit the following websites:
Ted Harrison Painting Paradise
Official Ted Harrison Website

Grade 2 students created original digital artwork using Kidpix software. This drawing software allows students the flexibility to define their pictures using a variety of art mediums such as a paint brush, pencil, marker, crayons and a colour fill bucket. Students outlined the template of their picture first using a pencil, carefully mapping out the landscape background. It was imperative to the success of the picture that all lines were connected so the colours filling in each section would not spill out into neighbouring landscape sections. The foreground details were the next part of the drawing process. Once pencil sketches were completed, students choose vibrant colours to fill in their artwork in the styling of Ted Harrison. Part of the instructions outlined to students was to create multiple pieces of artwork and then choose which picture would best represent their written text. Once each picture was uploaded to the VoiceThread tool, students recorded their voice with the help an external microphone. Each student was asked to evaluate the quality of their recording, remembering that a clear, articulate voice was needed to capture the listening attention of blog visitors.

Enjoy the VoiceThread!

Ms. Tonhauser

13 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed your artwork and facts about Northern Canada!

    Thank You
    Ms. D

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  2. You all did an excellent job! I loved the artwork and you all spoke so well. You taught me something today! I can't wait to try voicethread with my students in Texas!
    Mrs. Munoz

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  3. This was wonderful! I learned so much about igloos and other things. It made me want to live in one. Thank you for telling us about this!

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  4. What a great job you all did!I loved listening to each and everyone.Make sure you all tell your parents about this so that they can listen too.Keep up the hard work!
    Susie Berube (Kileys mom)

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  5. Hello Mrs Kwan and Ms. Tonhauser,
    Wonderful work, reflections and use of VoiceThread! I posted your project on my daily blog today (and on my Twitter account as well). So nice to see such excellent use of VoiceThread coming from Alberta! hers' my blog entry:
    http://brendadee.posterous.com/a-voicethread-example-from-sturgeon-school-di
    Best Wishes,
    Brenda Dyck
    (Calgary Regional Consortium)

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  6. Thank you to all of the blog visitors for your wonderful comments!

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  7. Dear students, I am so impressed by your hard work. Today I should not call you students because you have switched roles and become the "Teachers". I learned so much about the Inuit people that I did not know before... thank you so much. We are very proud of you.

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  8. What an amazing project you have produced!! I had so much fun looking at all the beautiful pictures and listening to your comments and I learned many new things about Ted Harrison and the Inuit people. I wish I could hang all your pictures in my office!! Thank you for sharing this exciting project with me.
    Michele

    Dr. Michele Dick
    Superintendent of Schools
    Sturgeon School Division

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  9. Awesome artwork! I learned so much about the Inuit, thank you for sharing.

    Elementary Teacher
    Calgary, Alberta

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  10. On behalf of Ted and our gallery, the Ted Harrison Studio, I just wanted to let the students know how much we love their artwork! Great job! Ted loves to see children painting in his style and you did an amazing job!

    Tara
    Ted Harrision Studio

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  11. Thank you for sharing your artwork and research 2K. We really liked all the bright colors and the fact that you shared it with all of us. We really enjoyed that all of you spoke so clearly and that you took the time to do all that wonderful research. We were really impressed to learn that Ted Harrison watched the voice thread.
    4L and Ms. Langford
    Camilla School

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  12. Great job 2K. Those inspired pictures were so cool.

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  13. Fabulous art!!! Really it is amazing...
    Essay Writing

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