Tech-Tac-Toe Tools #3: Glogster

My final "Tech-Tac-Toe" activity was designed using Glogster, a "graphic blog" site. Glogster can be accessed at http://www.glogster.com and used for free after signing up for an account.


Grade Level: 8
Subject: U.S. History
Lesson Topic: Founding Fathers
Objectives:
- Students will know the accomplishments of the American "Founding Fathers" (and "Mothers") during the Revolutionary War, the Constitutional Convention, and the early American republic.
- Students will be able to create a "resume" for one of these historical figures using graphic media technology.
Standards:
Social Studies Common Core
- RH.6-8.2: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
- RH.6-8.7: Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information  in print and digital texts.
- ISBE-TECH.3: The competent teacher will apply learning technologies that support instruction in his or her grade level and subject areas. He or she must plan and deliver units that integrate a variety of software, applications, and learning tools. Lessons developed must reflect effective grouping and assessment strategies for diverse learners.

Step 1: Students will choose a historical figure from the founding era of the United States, and extract information from a variety of text and digital primary and secondary sources (provided by the teacher) to meet specific requirements (e.g., birthplace, duties, role during the American founding) for a biographical "resume" of that figure.

Step 2: Students will import the information acquired from lecture and their sources into the "Resume" template on Glogster, and present the resulting graphic blog to the class. The example below is a resume for my favorite "Founding Father," Thomas Jefferson. Information was acquired from biographical web sites on Jefferson, lists of his quotes from writings and letters, and one dramatization (video clips from HBO's John Adams).

http://www.glogster.com/zero1319/thomas-jefferson-s-resume/g-6l5d42rm8ei8kog6e34j6a0

I had some trouble with Glogster's interface; there was little tutorial information available right on the page, and some of the graphic functions were finnicky in responding to commands. That said, the templates are excellent, and a little more exploration of the site would probably assuage any issues I had with getting it to execute what I wanted. I'm intrigued by the idea of graphic blogs (though I'm admittedly much more at home with a text-based blog like this one), but I'd need to do a little more experimenting and troubleshooting before I'm confident using it as a classroom tool.