{"id":2960,"date":"2019-10-02T07:30:09","date_gmt":"2019-10-02T11:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/teachersfirst.com\/blog\/?p=2960"},"modified":"2019-10-01T16:14:49","modified_gmt":"2019-10-01T20:14:49","slug":"tech-tool-of-the-month-story-maker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachersfirst.org\/blog\/2019\/10\/tech-tool-of-the-month-story-maker\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech Tool of the Month: Story Maker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Story Maker<\/span><\/a> is a simple digital storytelling tool for elementary students to write a story. Students can practice their writing skills, add color, add additional pages, and then save (or print) when finished. Story Maker<\/a> is part of the ABCya site, offering countless free web games, interactives, and learning experiences. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Grade level<\/i><\/b><\/td>\nStory Maker is recommended for grades K-5. However, many of the features (such as the primary looking notebook paper) seem designed for grades K-2. I would also consider this for special needs students in intermediate grades (3-5).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Purpose<\/i><\/b><\/td>\nThe purpose of this tech tool is to create online stories. The interface is easy enough for the youngest student to understand. Students can create multi-page books to include color and their own drawings. Many drawing tools are provided. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Web\/App<\/i><\/b><\/td>\nWhile ABCya does offer some of their activities in the app version, Story Maker is currently only available on a web browser. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What is included for free?<\/i><\/b><\/td>\nABCya\u2019s Story Maker is FREE on web browsers. However, there are some advertisements. At the time of this blog post, there is no app for the Story Maker. ABCya does offer a collection of apps for both iOS and Android devices, but most are not free.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ease of Use<\/i><\/b><\/td>\nStory Maker is extremely easy to use. The drawing instruments are pictures and students simply click to use those. The colors are also \u201cclick to choose.\u201d The writing portion is easy to begin with a simple click of the writing icon<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Privacy<\/i><\/b><\/td>\nNo registration is required to use Story Maker. When students begin their project, the tool does ask for their name, which is included on all pages. The work is not saved online, but rather saved to your computer or printed. So privacy should not be a concern.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Access<\/i><\/b><\/td>\nThis site does not require Flash or any other special software.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accessibility<\/i><\/b><\/td>\nStory Maker does not offer audio options for those learning to read. This tool would not work for those that are visually impaired. Hearing-impaired students would have no issues using this site. Story Maker would work well for students with dysgraphia or other small motor delays, as students can type the words rather than write. The simplicity of this tool would make it an easy option for ESL students. The images make the navigation very simple for even the youngest students. Students could use the drawing option only with simple \u201ckid writing.\u201d<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Capacity\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/td>\nThere is no limit on how many stories one can create. Individual students can create their own stories. There is no option for online collaboration; students may work together at the same computer. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ISTE Standards for Students<\/i><\/b><\/td>\nCreative Communicator\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6B – Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.<\/span><\/p>\n

6D – Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* Common Core Standards are listed on the Story Maker site.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Triple E Framework\"\"<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The Triple E Framework<\/a>, created by Dr. Liz Kolb, is built on the belief that \u201ceffective technology integration begins with good instructional strategies and not fancy tools.\u201d Dr. Kolb wrote a book on the topic: Learning First, Technology Second.<\/i> Technology can be used to Engage in learning goals, Enhance learning goals, or Extend learning goals. We can use this framework to decipher why we are using specific tools in the classroom. Here is a rubric<\/a> we can use to evaluate Story Maker (and any others) using the Triple E Framework. Use the rubric as you decide if a tool is a good fit with your learning goals and why you should (or shouldn\u2019t) use the technology tool in the lesson. <\/span><\/p>\n