While looking for a way to get my students to collaborate on projects together, I came across a web 2.0 tool called Protagonize. I immediately starting thinking about a fun way to introduce the program to them while also trying out a new teaching strategy. Since we are at the beginning of a new school year, I decided to combine Protagonize with the Bio-Poem teaching strategy.
Protagonize is a creative writing collaborative tool. An author starts a story, and then anyone can add on a new chapter to that story. Bio-poems are short little poems that enable students to share little pieces of themselves with their classmates. They follow this basic form:
Line 1: First name
Line 2: daughter/ son of....
Line 3: Four words that describe yourself
Line 4: lover of (3 things or ideas)
Line 5: who believed (1 or more ideas)
Line 6: Who wanted (3 things)
Line 7: Who is really good at (2 or more things)
Line 8: Who said (quote youself)
Line 9: Last name
I set up a story that my students could add on to. The first chapter showed them what format to follow, and the second chapter was an example, using my information. Besides showing them how I want their peom to look, they also get to know me a little better.
Check out the first few chapters here. (You will have to have an account to view)
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Great idea! I think this is a fantastic use of Web 2.0. Collaborative writing is a wonderful way of involving students in the writing process. Many students enjoy collaborative writing much more than writing on their own. I think that by intergrating both IT and writing, you're making good use of technology in education.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could make an Inquiry-Based lesson out of this also? Students could study something and create a collaborative essay out of their findings? There are many directions to take this in. Nice blog entry, Cassondra.
-Gabriel
I really liked this one too. I dont think that I am that creative of a writer so it would be nice to bounce ideas off of others and work together. I think it would be great to use this as a way to create relationships between different classes in different areas of the world. It would definalty make for a more interesting final story!
ReplyDeleteGreat find, Cassie!! I explored the tool briefly. It appears as though one could "lock down" a group and invite only those one desires to invite. Therefore, good for younger writers. However, I have not found a way for younger writers to be excluded from everything else they would see on the site.
ReplyDeletePowerful tool; powerful features. This tool was an excellent choice as an augmentation to the Bio-Poem, too.