Smilebox.Com Will Put
A Smile On Your Face Just Try It!
Melinda
Lyle-Javier
Overview:
Smilebox is an awesome Web 2.0 Tool that every teacher
should try at least once. When you need to think of an activity that will
demonstrate to parents what is happening in the classroom Smilebox would be the
perfect choice. A personalized greeting with a photo of a student sent home
would bring a smile to the face of a proud parent. Then realizing that their
child created the card would just be icing on the cake.
1.Target
Audience:
I will be teaching the Web 2.0 tool Smilebox to 7th
& 8th grade students.
2. Materials:
o Smilebox.com
is a Web 2.0 tool. Teachers can choose to use a 14-day free trial
or purchase a membership for $5.99 a month.
o When
using Smilebox there are options to send invitations, cards, photo collages, calendars,
and e-cards. So you need a computer and Internet access.
o Smilebox
products maybe printed or sent via email, Facebook or linked to a blog.
o Photo
paper
o A
printer with color printing features.
o Envelopes
for the photo cards.
o A
variety of paper sizes for calendars and collages.
o Paper
cutter
3. Objectives:
o The
students will analyze the Web 2.0 tool Smilebox.
o The
students will be able to use creative skills to design and create a card.
o The
students will be able to collaborate with each other to decide what products
will be used as a fundraiser.
o The
students will be able to collaborate within a group to determine the profitability
of the fundraiser.
o The
students will be able to use critical thinking skills to collaborate to create
a sales plan for the fundraiser.
o Students
will further master their ability to organize their creative work into a
finished product.
4. Procedures:
o Using a search engine on the Internet
go to Smilebox.com.
o Sign-up for the free 14 day trial to
use Smilebox.
o Take the time to carefully look at all
the options on the website.
o Be sure to have photos already loaded
on your computer, this will make it easier to make the various products.
o After choosing a particular product,
such as a birthday invitation, choose the design you want to use.
o Add your photo or photos.
o Personalize card using your own words.
o Save your work.
o Spell check and then verify the
information on the card.
o Print the card on photo paper.
o Cut the cards using a good paper
cutter.
o Other options include sending the
completed card to Smilebox and the printing will be done for you. AT AN
ADDITIONAL COST.
5. Emerging Technology: Web 2.0 Tool SMILEBOX
a.
Smilebox.com
b. Personalized photos cards and invitations
6. Social Participation/Social Learning:
The students will be working in groups,
3 students in each group. During a class discussion as a group we made the
decision to use Smilebox as a method for fundraising. It was also decided that
we would sell personalized Christmas Cards. This required that we have a group
to research the cost of materials to create Christmas cards. A group was needed
to develop our marking plan. A group was created to work on designs, and one more
group to organize the actual production of the cards.
Collaboration
and critical thinking skills will be needed from the beginning to the end of
the project. Observing and helping as needed will be my responsibility. I have filmed
our work up to this point and I hope to keep filming so we can look back and
enjoy the collaborative work we will have done together.
The
opportunities with this program are endless. For my class the motivation was
there to try to do something that will develop into a wonderful learning
opportunity. We will also be raising funds for our class trip to Washington
D.C.
Teachers could choose to use Smilebox in a variety of ways;
each student could create one photo card, or a photo collage of the class could
be created with everyone choosing one picture for the collage. Smilebox has multiple
uses and can be used to enhance any classroom.
7. Making Connections:
i.
The students have used iPhoto and other programs to edit
photos and create slideshows. They will be able to use that knowledge along
with the new experience of learning Smilebox and create a finished product that
is much more complex.
ii. The
project we are doing with Smilebox is relevant to the students because their
interest in technology and the use of their creative talents are going to be linked
to fundraising. They will feel proud of the success we all achieve together
while working on this project.
iii.
The connection the students will have with the other families at our
school will reinforce their previous experiences of customer service. We operate a store and bakery every Thursday
morning, and the students bake, serve the food and do the bookkeeping for the
store. We will be meeting the needs
of our school families by offering the Christmas cards for them to buy.
1.Create/Produce:
o The
final product will be a Christmas card. We will have a variety of cards to use
as samples for our customers.
2.
Assessment:
Rubric-Smilebox
Project
3. Reflection:
One type of
reflection that I will use is a rubric. Each student and I will use the rubric
to assess the completed work. The students will use their Writing Journal to
write a reflection entry describing the experience of using Smilebox for this
project. As a group we will also reflect on the experience. I have found that group
discussions can be a powerful method for students to share with each other. Teachers may want to have each group work together to write a
reflection. Filming and editing a movie about the project is another wonderful
way to reflect.
After
completing this assignment, which begins with introducing Smilebox to my class,
and weaves all the way through to reading student reflections I would analyze
what aspects of the lesson worked well and what did not work well. Using the
rubrics and the written reflections along with the completed Christmas cards I
would be able to understand to what level each student succeeded with the
assignment. These indicators would show me what areas I needed to improve the
lesson and the implementation of the plan.
I love this idea! This concept is a great way to make home-school connections. It's also a fantastic way to create announcements and/or send important information home in a creative and personal way. Is there an option to print the card for those families that don't have internet access? If I have some free time, I would love to explore this Web 2.0 tool to see if I can use it with my own students.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you can link this program to your students' prior experiences and projects (e.g. baking) and continue them by adding this wonderful card creation is really inspiring that the learning and creating will continue on. You know that something is successful when the learning doesn't stop. Thank you so much for sharing!