Picture presentation with Bubblr

What computer tools that you can think of when you have to make a presentation? Microsoft PowerPoint? Any other? This entry, therefore, will show you how we can make presentation by using another interactive medium called Bubblr. Bubblr is a website that allows people to make picture presentations or comic strips by using images that are based from flickr.com. It is free and no registration is needed. Easy and convenient for teachers, students and even anyone from any background fields. 

Website URL: http://www.pimpampum.net/bubblr/

   

How it operates?

• Have a topic of your presentation and you can just insert some key words of pictures that you imagine in a tag box. Pictures that are under that particular tag will be listed and the numbers of it are depends. You can choose any suitable pictures that you think could fit with your presentation.

•  On each picture, you can insert a bubble; whether to have dialogue or even a descriptive sentence that related with the picture. The slides can be added by clicking 'after current' or 'before current' button, depending on how you want to arrange your slides.

• After you have done, simply click publish and you need to fill in the title and your name. By giving this information, you can search for your work in Bubblr archive. You do not have to worry of losing it, it is saved. You can also email your work to other people. 

• You could always change information in your presentation by clicking 'Recycle This Strip' button. 

Below is my version of Bubblr slideshow. Enjoy!

How can teacher use it?

Presentation of topic of interest.

Brainstorm with students some ideas that are appealing to them and some topics like holiday, my hobby and favourite food might be mentioned. This indirectly would make students feel involved in the classroom activity and lowered down the authority of the teacher. Ask students to choose any of the topics that interest them the most. However, you could also be flexible by giving them freedom to choose any other ideas that appeal to them. Encourage students to write sentences and describe a little more about the pictures in the slides. To make it more interesting, you could assign students to present their works orally in front of the whole class.

Correcting ungrammatical sentences.

You could also test students' awareness on grammar rules of language. As a teacher, create a description or narration using Bubblr that contains grammatical errors in each slides. Present the slideshow to the students and ask them to edit and correct ungrammatical sentences as well as noting the reason of the mistakes. Do you remember that Bubblr has recycle button? By only clicking on this button, the content of the slideshow could be changed. Moreover, you do not have to worry about lack of internet-access computer in your school (if you have this problem) since this activity is not only for individual, but it could also be a group or whole class task.
  

What do I say about this website?

Thumbs up points :)

1) Students can use picture to create vision aids about the information in slides.

2) Practice writing short descriptive sentences.

3) Personalisation as activity could cater individual interest.

Thumbs down points :(

1) Not all pictures that we want available in flickr.

2) Cannot reposition the slides which is difficult!

3) The dialogue boxes cannot be expanded and they might block pictures.

4) Limited font and size of it. 

I hope you use it and ENJOY!

Be creative with Storybird

Finding it difficult to encourage students to write? How about using this tool, Storybird as a start to solve your worry. Storybird is a website that gives students (or even adults!) opportunity to write comic strips using collection of images that are drawn by various free artists around the world. Through pictures, students can be inspired to imagine and explore the story behind each of it and produce a storytelling of their own. Interestingly, this website also allows people to collaborate in pairs and share their ideas together in one piece of work.   

Website URL:  http://www.storybird.com

How it operates?

• In order to start writing comic strips, you must have your own Storybird's account. Not to worry, this website is free and you do not have to spend a penny. Once registered, you can customize your avatar and improve your understanding of this website by reading some of the guidelines.

• Now, let's jump to making a storybird. You can choose pictures by two means. First, you could browse the 'story art' by looking at the title and its sample of pictures. There are a lot of them and you could reload the page until you find one that interests and inspires you. The next option is that you can choose image collections by clicking on themes. There are various of them such as dream, vacation and musical. Through this way, you can be more focus on what to search for and have the idea on what you would write afterwards.

Theme: travel (toy train by shishir naik)

• Do you find one that you like? So, let's start the story telling. There would be various pictures that you can pick from to start your story. The picture can be positioned at the right side of the page, the left side and even to the full page. A writing box is also provided so that you can insert your writing. If you have done with your first page, you can always add a page to continue your story. Perhaps, along the story line, if you dislike one of the page that you have made, you can just remove it by clicking 'remove a page' button. As easy as that. 

• The story could be a two-person's work too. By clicking the 'menu' button, you can invite someone to collaborate in creating a story. Just insert the recipient's first name and email, and your invitation will be sent. When your partner accept your invite, you can take turns in finishing your piece.

• When you have satisfied with your work, you can then publish the story by clicking 'publish story' button at the 'menu'. Your story will be automatically saved as private where only you and some people you choose can read it. If you want to make it public so that other Storybird members can read it, you can change the setting and select 'Public' in the privacy menu.                 

• Writing Storybird is fun but you can also have fun by reading other's piece of work too. Just click 'Read' and many Storybirds will be listed out for you to choose. You can enjoy someone else' story and perhaps learn their style of writing at the same time. It is like killing two birds with one stone, right?   

This is the link to a story that I have made with my friend, Eind. Enjoy!

How can teacher use it?

Write narrative writing

        Teacher can use this as a tool to encourage students to write narrative writing. You may divide students into pairs or let them work alone depending on their level of confidence in writing as well as their familiarity to work with other people. It is also important to check students' works and you can do so by asking them to send their story to you via email.   
    

        The writing activity could be more interesting if you create a competition among the students where the winner would be acknowledged and rewarded. As a teacher, you could use your full authority in judging their stories and decide the winner by yourselves. However, you could also include students in choosing the winner as well. Choose the top three or five from all the stories and ask students to vote one that attracts them the most. You might also encourage students to voice out their opinions on their choices.

What do I say about this website?

Thumbs up points :)

1) Students can practice creative writing by narrating a story.
2) Interesting pictures.
3) Enhance cooperation and good communication in pair works.
4) Ownership.

Thumbs down points :(

1) Limited pictures. (Idea could be restricted by lack of suitable picture to suit the writing).
2) Sharing ideas might lead to students losing their own creativity and tend to follow the one who dominates. 
3) The file only can be shared and not embedded unless you upgrade your membership (we have to pay basically).
I hope you use it and ENJOY!