This site has what a non artisan like my self need, it can bring what I have in my head on the paper/board and I know my students wont be wondering what it is I am trying to represent to them.
Whenever I give drawing assignments, my artistically challenged students always are opposed to it, now here is a site that will make things so much easier for them (and me). I can't say enough good things, I am so excited about it.
Here's how I would introduce my students to the site (I'd have to talk with the Technology teacher as I only have 2 computers in my room and I would want all my students using the tools at the same time). My lesson plan would be centered around students visiting the site and playing around with images, stencils, drawing tools, etc. They would create their own masterpiece. The next time/day we would go back and I would have the students use the tools to recreate a scene or a place, for example, main office, classroom, scene from a reading, chart.... Doing this would familiarize them with tools and make them comfortable with the site.
For homework, I would have students go into the site to correct whatever they feel is necessary or correct according to my suggestions. They do not have to use the computers at school to gain access to the site (another great thing about (Cacoo).
For the students who don't have a computer at home and/or no Internet, they could go to the public library or else go to the compute room after school to complete the homework assignment.
This would lead up to the group project. Usually I would have one person in the group being the artist, but with this site, everyone can showcase their creative side. The work also can be edited from anywhere, anytime.
Hi, Nikky.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post about Cacoo. (The names of these tools are pretty funky if you ask me! LOL) I was wondering about when you mentioned Lucidchart not being a choice over your new-found Cacoo. I'm more familiar with Dabbleboard actually, and know that they are similar. But what benefits do you think Cacoo provides for your students that Lucidchart does not? Why would your students gravitate to it more? Since I'm not an artist myself, I can appreciate anybody (or anything) that will help me artistically! The kindergarteners think I'm great, but the Middle and High Schoolers get a great laugh! Thanks for the info on Cacoo. I will check it out!
Nicky,
ReplyDeleteSome questions.What ages (grades) are your students? What subject matter do you teach? As you describe your plans, they seem more designed for play than for learning. Is that your intention?
Hey Natalie,
ReplyDeleteMy middle school students complain about my endeavours all the time too. With Lucidchart, you are allowed to draw shapes and it does have some cool gadgets, but I found with Cacoo, there were not only shapes but stencils of images. There were images of people, smiley faces, office, etc. Doesn't necessarily have all the images one could imagine, but for someone like me, it is pretty cool.
I have a number of artists in my class, who would probably be able to use the site in other ways --- maybe to enhance what they are already doing or maybe even for definitions, but the less artistically inclined students would no longer have to complain when I give them a drawing assignment, because Cacoo would provide the images for them. It can also provide the text.
Hi Professor Gilkes,
ReplyDeleteCurrently I am teaching ELA, Math, Social Studies & Career Ed to an 8th grade, self-contained Special Education class.
Play and learning are interchangeable, right!! There are times when the homework assignment entails draw something to depict the lesson we did in class & I always have opposition and complaints. So, they could use Cacoo to aid them in completing the homework.
Although it isn't my intention for it to be all play, if my students find it as such and complete the assignment, then we all win.