This document discusses how multimedia and speech can enhance learning and the development of thinking skills in primary school students. It argues that students learn best when they are encouraged to use spoken language to express their thinking, rather than being expected to rely primarily on writing. Using tools like AudioTouch, Tux Paint, and Voicethread allows students to discuss and explain their ideas out loud, which helps clarify and solidify their understanding. The document provides examples of how students themselves reported learning more effectively about topics like global warming when they were able to draw pictures, record explanations with microphones, and discuss concepts with others.

1. Multimedia Making Meaning RealBy Lois Smethurst 2011 Blog - My ICT JourneyTwitter: loisath

2. WHY?Vygotsky (1978) also highlighted the convergence of the social and practical elements in learning by saying that the most significant moment in the course of intellectual development occurs when speech and practical activity, two previously completely independent lines of development, converge. Through practical activity a child constructs meaning on an intrapersonal level, whilespeech connects this meaning with the interpersonal world shared by the child and her/his culture.

3. WHY?Gordon Wells emphasizes the importance of speech and writing as a means of building and clarifying knowledge.“The fact that the processes of thinking, such as categorizing, hypothesizing, reasoning, and evaluating, are not only realized in language,in the sense of being made manifest in speech and writing, but also actually constructed and improved through its mediating means.”

4. Visualizing Strategies for Comprehension

5. For students in primary school, the processes of thinking are more likely to be realized if the students are encouraged to use speech. Young students are inexperienced writers and we cannot expect them to use written language as the main expression of their thinkingStudents speak before they writeIf we really want to know what they are thinking and how they are thinking, then the first form of communication should be spokenespecially for primary students who are still in the early stages of developing their reading and writing skills.

6. HOW?Lets talk about it: Add audio to anything enhances the learningVoiceThreadGlogsterPowerPointPhotoStorySkype debatingNick’s LEEP Story made with Tux Paint and PhotoStory

7. VoiceThreadReader’s TheatreAn Innovation on the Stellaluna Picture by Janelle Cannonhttp://voicethread.com/share/483703/

8. Which One to Use

9. How to Record Clear Audio in the ClassroomStudents work in pairs coaching each other.They are expected to listen critically to their buddy and offer constructive adviseUni-directional microphones suppress the background noise. Good sound cards are important.

10. Drawings to Animations with VoiceThese were created with Tux Paint (free to download) and SAM Animation (Trial version available). You can see some more detailed instructions on my blog.

11. What Students SayHow I learnt about Global Warming: First we, the LEEP kids watched a movie, but that wasn’t enough because if it did tell us everything about Global Warming and other stuff we would just stay home and watch videos to learn. After that we discussed the matter and our LEEP teacher, Mrs. Smethurst simplified it because it was a bit hard to understand. We all drew pictures about it to help us understand even further because it was still a bit blury in our minds It unblured for me when I explained it to a microphone on Audiotouch. It really helped me to understand what Global Warming is and how to present it.http://berwicklodgeps.global2.vic.edu.au/2009/08/21/how-i-learnt-about-global-warming/

12. What Students SayHow I Learn?Posted by: MarnieHow I Learn…I learn best when I am on AudioTouch talking and when we are in a discussion. I need to talk when I am learning to fully understand it. Rather then just reading a whole paragraph that totally means nothing to me.Learning About Global Warming…When I was learning about Global Warming the part where I understand the most was when I was on Tux Paint and when I was on AudioTouch because…When I was on AudioTouch talking about it was easier to understand than researching on the internet.It was easy to understend when I was drawing because I understood what I was drawing.

13. HAVE FUN WITH WEB 2.0 Students can use a lot of the tools without signing up for an account.Voki – Australian Bush BalladsGlobal Problem – Local SolutionBlabberize, KahootzRoyalty Free Music Site

14. Easy but very effectiveCommonCraftFind out, draw it, script it, practice it, sequence it share it, film it.Works with whole grade.