Unwritten

Created by Cathy Nelson, Teacher-Librarian, NBCT

 The following “end products” are listed here as a suggested alternative to the standard written research paper. The ideas shared here do not eliminate the need for your typical research process, including the citation of sources. Teaching the research process can become boring and tedious for both the teacher and the student. By approaching the required standard, consider alternatives to the written research paper. Using varied end products can get students interested in their topic and give them knew and innovative ways to demonstrate concept mastery.

 There is a need for collaboration to make these effective projects. Please consult your collaborating teacher for student requirements and a rubric. It is highly recommended that the rubrics be planned together, and the two (or more) collaborating teachers take on different aspects of the assessment piece. Perhaps the requirements and rubric can be agreed upon in a consultation with your teacher before committing to a project type.

 Some of these lend themselves to being done alone as a stand alone project, while others may require you select two or three to put together for a project. It is suggested if students get to “pick” and “choose” they are required to get plans approved first.

The list below includes helpful links, examples, or links to develop the project. Remember all content used should be copyright friendly or fully cited.

Project Ideas to use individually or in combination:
__** PowerPoint - A Favorite Project Choice **__

Students need to be taught effective Powerpoint skills. The following resources are from my own teaching toolbox for how to have an effective presentation. Slides and content have been borrowed from many educator friends to pull together this presentation, and it is a guide of what too do and what NOT to do. The concepts here can be applied to other presentation vehicles as well. In teaching effective presentation techniques to classes, I emphasize that teachers teach it, model it, and then assign it. This is true for all components of the research process.

__ **Performance Alternatives: ** __ > media type="custom" key="21058462" > Flashmob > > media type="custom" key="21058472" > > media type="custom" key="21058478"
 * Death By PowerPoint - VIdeo of a comedian's take on really bad powerpoint presentations; funny, but be warned it contains a profane word.
 * Classroom Friendly Video - the video downloaded and edited to remove the profane language
 * [|The Powerpoint]
 * Poem
 * [|Song]
 * Rap
 * Story
 * Drama/Play
 * Scrapbook
 * Diorama (artistic rendition of a scene)
 * [|Painting or Drawing]
 * [|Stop Motion Animation]

__ **Comic Strip / Poster ** __ __ **Presentation Solutions ** __ > See our library orientation
 * [|Comic Life] (*cost)
 * [|Comic Creator]
 * [|Make Beliefs Comix]
 * Toondoo Example A Teacher's Guide to Toondoo
 * Comic Master
 * StoryMaker
 * Microsoft Office PowerPoint (available at most schools school)
 * [|Present.me]  - a web service that lets you create effective presentations through your PowerPoint files. Read more about it [|here] .
 * [|Google Docs Presentation]  (free online; requires a Google account; will export to PowerPoint) see an example
 * [|Prezi]  -The zooming presentation editor. Requires a free account (login/password);
 * 1) [|Student example 1] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">;
 * 2) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #497fb1; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Student example 2] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">;
 * 3) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Example] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> that compares Prezi to PowerPoint
 * 4) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Beginner's Guide to Prezi video <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #497fb1; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">[|here to see a Youtube video] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">outside school
 * 5) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Other examples Sample 1 Sample 2 (use to show "what not to do")
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #497fb1; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__ [|Photostory] __ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> must be downloaded
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> [|Voice Thread] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> requires a free account
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Slide Me requires a free account
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> [|Slide.com] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Upload your photos and then choose from a variety of options to create an engaging slideshow
 * Projeqt Slide show alternative See sample touting the AASL Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning
 * Popplet Concept mapping tool that can be used as a presentation tool as well. See my sample.

__**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Make a Movie **__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Windows Movie Maker (use video, still images, or a combination of both; add effects, transitions, sounds, etc to enhance the final video.) Capture video footage from copyright friendly material --StreamlineSC comes to mind --or your own original video from your cell phone. Use online converters to get it in a pc-friendly format (.wmv). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Read about green screen technology <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> [|here]. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Some types of movies to consider:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Documentary
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Public Service Announcement/Commercial
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Interview
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Green Screen Technology to put yourself in your video

__** Animated Video **__
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #497fb1; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__ [|Xtranormal] (has a cost and requires an account; has an educator fee option)__
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #497fb1; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__ [|Xtranormal Demo] __
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #497fb1; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">__ [|Xtranormal Example] __

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Other Digital Projects: > <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">sample-booktrailer > sample booktrailer > media type="custom" key="21058502" > <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> sample book trailer
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #497fb1; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Animoto] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Make a music video; requires an account; probably alone it is not enough to fulfill a project requirement so be sure to discuss this option with your teacher. Requires an account.
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"> [|Wordle] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - Create Word clouds from text
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"> [|Tagxedo] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Create shaped word clouds from text
 * [|Tagul] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - Create interactive word clouds
 * [|Glogster] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - Interactive poster
 * [|Google Lit Trips] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (using Google Earth)
 * **Visual Book Reports**

**PosterMyWall.com** media type="custom" key="13270050"

Mash-up of Wordle and PowerPoint media type="custom" key="13270122" align="left"

>


 * __Low-Tech Solutions__: **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Paper Bag Report
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Facebook Poster (note this can be high tech too.) There is a template that opens in PowerPoint available for download <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">[|here] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Trifold Display Board
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Three dimensional art piece

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ideas to work in:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Copyrighted materials, particularly images and music
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Define Fair Use and “transformative use” as teaches and not just enhances
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Explain Creative Commons and using copyrght friendly content
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Justify the need for teachers and students alike to include citations for all content that doesn’t belong--educators should be modeling citing sources in the digital age.