Coughlin+Toontastic


 * ** Brief Project Description **

Toontastic is a wonderful storytelling app that students can use to bring their writing alive. Students can begin animating their story with just a touch of a button. Click on the presentation below to learn more about the app, its benefits, and how you can use it in your classroom!


 * Presentation **

media type="custom" key="25138154" align="center"


 * App Information **

 Toontastic was created by Launchpad Toys and is considered an educational app. It compatible with the iPad and is rated for ages four and up. You do not need to have Wii to utilize the app and can save it to your iPad or share it on Toontube. NY Times rated it Top 10 iPad Apps of 2011, Parents’ Choice gave it a Silver Honor Award in 2011, and it is featured in the iTunes App Store Hall of Fame.


 * Supporting Articles **

The article referenced in my presentation can be found here: @http://thenjournal.org/feature/160/

Article that discusses how Digital Storytelling can help struggling writers

Unlocking Student Potential

Toontastic

**All areas:** Teachers or students can use the app as an introduction or recap of the lesson. It can also be used to state the objective and give directions.
 * Content Areas **

**Reading:** Students can retell a story using the app and put the story in a different perspective

**Science/Social Studies:** Students can be presented a hook into a lesson or can explain a concept

**Art:** Students can create their own scene and character. They could also use the characters to discuss a painter or technique they learned about

Toontastic, a Digital Storytelling tool, correlates to several NETS, National Education Technology Standards for Students, standards:
 * Toontastic and Standards **

Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:
 * NETS-S 1: Creativity and Innovation **
 * apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
 * create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
 * use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">identify trends and forecast possibilities.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">NETS-S 2: Communication and Collaboration **
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems. Standards taken from: https://www.iste.org/

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Toontastic not only improves my students' technology skills but also encourages creativity, writing, fluency, collaboration and presentation skills. This app allows students to work independently as well as collaborate with their peers to create a story. Teachers do not need to worry about having wii after the app is downloaded to create stories but can use wii if they want to publish (privately or publicly) their video on Toontube (toontube.launchpadtoys.com). This tool is also a great way for students to critique each other and their work. Students can also go back and revise their work based on the feedback they have received.
 * Pedagogical Considerations **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When planning for using a digital storytelling tool in the classroom, it is important for the teacher to think about how student understanding can be strengthened by the use of a digital storytelling tool. In my classroom I saw many of my students struggling to get to the publishing stage. Some of my students felt it was pointless or they would never get there. By giving my students another medium, the allowed them to see a purpose to their writing. In addition, I thought how using digital storytelling could help my students develop as writers. By using this tool, many of my students are finding their writing voice.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It is also important to think about your students' knowledge when it comes to technology. In addition, the teacher needs to be knowledgeable of the digital storytelling tool so that they can support the student.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This is a PDF that I created that allows students to brainstorm and then write their script. While students can simply create, I wanted to be able to have my students write out their script ahead of time. By giving students time to work on their script, I was able to help students revise their writing. Before students utilized the app, they also were able to practice their script which helped with their fluency.
 * Additional Resources **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This PDF was created by Toontastic and another option for a Story Design Worksheet. I did not include the emotion in my PDF but feel it probably would be good to have.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This is the very first video of one of my students. We learned a lot from this video! Students need to make sure they are not moving the iPad around or playing with something. The microphone will pick it up. Video

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[|http://www.launchpadtoys.com/edu/#about] Launchpad Toys Website

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[] Teachers With Apps website review the App

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[] This blog is of a first grade teacher who wrote how she implemented Toontastic in her classroom. When her students were reading fairy tales, her kids wrote an interview with the Big Bad Wolf. Students then animated their interview using the app. This could help you generate ideas in your own classroom.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[] Another first grade teacher who used the app for retelling after reading Hermit Crab.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[] You can print out and make paper puppets for your classroom. May give your students a chance to practice before they record (especially if you are limited to just a few iPads in each room).

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[] Think you cannot use Toontastic in a classroom? Think again!

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[] How you can using Toontastic in history. What a great way to have students retell parts in history using this app.


 * References **


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[] <--Makers of Toontastic


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Kulla-Abbott, T., & Polman, J. L. (2008). Engaging student voice and fulfilling curriculum goals with digital stories. THEN: Technology, Humanities, Education & Narrative, (5), 38-60.


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">[[file:Powerpoint.pdf]]Copy of my PowerPoint ||