Age: 8-12yrs Ease ****
Tikatok is no longer available. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a new lesson plan using Picozine instead.
Overview
This software enables learners to publish their stories in book form. There are different levels of support offered so there is very little limit as to the age and ability of learners that can use it. View ours: http://www.tikatok.com/view/book/the-naughty-puppy-002/
Description
On the homepage, we suggest you do join this site as you have to be a member in order to upload pictures and save learners’ work. This is very easy to do and you won’t get bombarded by updates and offers in your email inbox! When you join, you’re given the choice to create an account just for yourself (as we did) or you can create an account for you and another (linked) account for learners. It’s really a matter of personal choice.
Once you’ve confirmed your account, learners will be able to log in and choose the level of support they need. This ranges from 1. Personalized Book (entry level) 2. Story Sparks (ages 8+) or 3. Start from Scratch (ages 10+).
Following the on-screen instructions is fairly easy, learners are only likely to need a quick tutorial on selecting cover styles, page colour and uploading pictures in order to get going.
Throughout the process, they are able to choose text styles, page setup and photo format. It really is up to them how much (or little) they format their book. Once they’ve finished, remind them to save their book and click on Preview to see if they’re happy with the results. In the preview pane, they can save the file in PDF to the desktop, but it will have a “Tikatok Preview” watermark on each page. When they’re happy, they can click on Quit in the top right hand corner. On the next page they will be given the option to View and Buy their book. It is not necessary to buy it their book will be saved to the account’s bookshelf.
Ask learners to read their book to the class!
What do I need?
Internet access
Added value
Creating a professional looking book is always difficult, but here learners can do exactly that whilst making a broad range of choices that ensure the book is distinct and uniquely theirs.
Hints and tips
When they’ve published their work, you could send a note home with the URL so that parents can choose to purchase the book if they wish. But DO make it clear that this is not mandatory. Explain to learners BEFORE they take their URLs home that they must not pressurise their parents into buying the book and that it will be available to them online anytime they wish to read it.
Safety
You should not include your personal information (such as your real name or home address) when writing. For example, instead of using your real name, you can use “I”.
Other opportunities to use the same software
- Create any type of books: story books, recipe books, poetry books, non-fiction etc.
- Create class books e.g. “Our Anthology of Winter Poems”.
This post is also available in: Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Welsh
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You will have to join in order to read the book via the link, but don’t be put off by this… they won’t ask for your life history/bank details!
According to the document. recommend this exercise to children aged 10years, where computer and software skills for this age are not fully developed, so they would use this program for children with the necessary skills and developed his age, and that this program early capacities not understand the use of the system, thus resulting complex.
This activity is very simple and easy, but I like to see it more as something optional for the student, I mean, it would be very interesting to learn or know of the existence of this product, but I see this activity as an activity belonging to Index or practices, but as something optional, decision of each student.
Hey
Take a look at http://www.picozine.com. It’s a site to make a (very) small magazine. After registration, you’ll create 16 pages, size A7. The software is basic and straightforward: you upload images and add text.
When you’re ready, you can embed the magazine or you can save it as a printable two pages A4 pdf file. Print it double sided, fold it, staple it and cut it.
I think you’ll find it a worthy alternative, although of course I never saw the original Tikatok site.
Maybe we should create a Picozine for the Taccle2 site…
Thanks Joeren!
I did check it out, and this is the result!
Thanks Jeroen! I did check out picozene – it’s pretty good!
http://nicdan.picozine.com/index.php?rep=3386&art=174
I had a quick go and it was a lot of fun(click on the link to see the evidence!)
A very good alternative to tikatok.
Thanks so much!
Hi Nic
Glad it worked out! Liked your picozine about wanderlust
Here’s the new lesson plan for Picozine!
8-12yrs
Ease ***
Overview: This software enables learners to publish their own online books. Although it is very well suited to creating picture stories, there is no reason why learners cannot create non-fiction books and magazines too! Although the software is fairly straightforward learners will need to upload pictures, add text and, if desired, change page colours. View ours: http://nicdan.picozine.com/index.php?rep=3386&art=174
Description: On the homepage, click on ‘Make a Picozine’ to join the site. Click on ‘Subscribe Here’ and create your own username and password. On the left hand side, underneath the main tabs, there will be a smaller tab marked ‘create new pico-zine’; this is where learners need to click to begin creating their book. Also, all picozines you create will appear here. On the next page learners will need to enter a title and description, but don’t worry too much, these can be changed at any time. We also find it useful if learners, before starting, create a rough copy on paper (text and rough sketch of pics) – this saves a lot of fuss when they are working online. Naturally, learners will have selected the images, photographs or pictures they want to include and saved them on the computer. These are easier to find if saved in a clearly marked file on the desktop.
Following the on-screen instructions is fairly easy, learners are only likely to need a quick tutorial on adding text, changing page colour and uploading pictures in order to get going. It took us about 10 minutes to familiarise ourselves with the picozine format. We think it helps to explain to learners that their final book will need to be 16 pages in total (it is one of the flaws of the software that this cannot be changed) and that all the pages are displayed on the right hand side.
Tell learners to work systematically, either by adding all their pics to the appropriate pages then adding text, or to complete a page at a time (text and pics) before moving on. You’ll know which will suit your learners best. As the process is quite repetitive, it allows learners to practise these functions thoroughly. Throughout the process, they are able to choose and change cover styles, page colours and photo format; with photos and pictures, we found that un-ticking the ‘fill page’ box underneath the upload box prevented pics becoming distorted. It really is up to them how much (or little) they format their book The main thing for them to remember is to click on ‘send the files’ every time they edit or add something to their publication.
Once they’ve finished, they have several options on how to use their ‘Pico’. They can download it as a PDF, print it and add it to the class library. They can use the embed code provided to upload it to the chool’s website, or send the link via email to friends and family!
We always like to ask learners to read their book to the class. This is a nice end to the chool day and also develops learners’ presentation skills.
What do I need?
• Internet access
• http://www.picozine.com
Added value: Creating a professional looking book is always difficult, but here learners can do exactly that. They practise a broad range of core IT functions whilst making a book that is uniquely theirs.
Hints and tips: It may be a good idea for learners to work in pairs to create their first Pico. Mixed ability pairings work well.
Safety: learners should not include your personal information (such as their real name or home address) when writing. Also, if learners are using photographs of themselves or peers, ensure you have parental consent.
Other opportunities to use the same software:
• Create any type of books: story books, recipe books, poetry books, non-fiction etc.
• Create class books e.g. “Our Anthology of Winter Poems”.
• Why not experiment with creating a class magazine!