Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Go GLOG it!!

latrobe.k12.ca.us
Glogster is a web tool that has gained popularity in  the last couple years as an alternative to the traditional poster assignment. Glogster can be used in a variety of ways...but essentially it is a way to integrate media like pictures, video, and hyperlinks into a collage type digital poster.
Click here and then find the yellow cloud on the right side of the page titled "How to use Glogster." Underneath it is a video with 2 guys in black standing and the words "Play Me" underneath it.  Click on the play button on that video and it will go through a video on ways Glogster is used. (several of the videos embedded on this glog will not play at school as they are likely hosted on youtube).

If you're interested,  here is a wiki site that has a  tutorial about Glogster embedded inside of an actual Glog.  (click the play button on the video on the right side of the screen to view the tutorial).

Here and here you will find examples of how a media specialist created glogs to share resources with students and teachers. A teacher could easily replicate this idea for a variety of different projects...book or character projects, biographical posters on authors, explorers, historical leaders, etc.  You'll notice that both of these Glogs are embedded into their school wiki.

Here is the gallery at Glogster divided by topic to see what glogs others have created and shared. Here are some more examples in different subject areas...current eventsShakespearean parody glog, frog dissection,  place value, book reviewMoon glog,  historical diary (notice the reference link leads back to a google docs page where the student lists the picture and research citations...how cool!). Here is an example I found of a Glog rubric a teacher used.

Like many of the web 2.0 tools...there is a basic free inidividual account as well as several levels of premium educator accounts that allows for classroom management features and more options. Here is the comparison chart. Teachers can get a 30 trial premium account to try it out when they register.

What do you think of Glogster? Can you see any meaningful uses for it? What can Glogster offer over the traditional poster assignment?

9 comments:

MDD said...

Glogster, looks like fun a tool students/teachers would like to use. A tool to get students excited about research, learning and at the same time using technology and having fun. For me I see it as a tool to move my teaching more towards the native and away from the immigrant. Teaching in a more tech friendly way “as soon as I learn more about it practice and feel comfortable downloading content to use on glogster. The site could be used as a review tool an additional resource and a cool way to present information. Student /teachers could create digital poster that can be downloaded to a blog or other web site. A cool improvement over traditional poster is the ability to incorporate videos found on the web or made by the created of the glogster. The fun and user friendly features will excite students/teachers and the classroom applications are endless. LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE FUN LEARNING TO ME!

Debbie McMahon said...

Wow, went to the gallery and typed in Similar Trianges ant got a poster that a student created. Would love to do this with my students or at least assign this as an option for a project. I had trouble reading the poster though it was fuzzy?

Lori said...

I could use Glogster on nearly EVERY topic in science. It is such a great option to display everything on one "board" yet have so many links to videos,etc. to understand and "see" the information. My first thought as I viewed a science glogster was it takes me about 2 weeks to cover everything on this one poster! The rubric was perfect in allowing students to be creative. My class just did a Powerpoint/Prezi on an element but I am thinking the glogster may be a better way to present the information. Again, there are so many uses of glogster in science.

anearlgirl said...

@deb, one thing that students need some instruction on in a project like this is on design...our kids don't get much of that since we are in a hurry to get through content. We need to teach kids that their information can be outstanding but if people can't read it because they choose a cool looking, yet hard to read font, then they have missed the mark.

Pam said...

I have seen Glogster examples before and they really are awesome. I must admit, though, when I looked at the price chart I lost interest. I'm too cheap to shell out money unless it's something that I can use over and over. Using Glogster for more than one assignment per tri would be overkill in my opinion. I also agree with Jennifer about the fact that kids would really need some tutorials on layout and design or they could really end up with some cruddy looking projects.

Mr. Hurley said...

Glogster is tablet friendly. I see a lot going on. I like that it attracts you to different things and offers a different perspective. The concept also harkens back to the first class and emphasizes the differences between the native all over the place readers to the immigrant left/right/up/down perspective.
I like that the integration of multiple medias types is strong and I believe this will give a better experience for consumers.

Anonymous said...

Glogster looks like fun. In fact, I went to the site and played around with making a poster for a while. There are certainlky a myriad of opportunities to use glogster in the ELA classroom, and my students would enjoy making posters using glogster while earning. However, like Pam, the expense is a deterrent to classroom use.

Lori said...

I didn't notice an expense. Is that to make one? We can observe them for free, correct? I may show some already made posters to my class where the links are interesting. What is the cost of having students make their own glogster?

anearlgirl said...

Individual students can create accounts for free...the cost comes in if you want to have the teacher management piece so you can create and manage classes and get upgraded glogster features like the drawing tools and expanded library. The free basic version of Glogster is robust enough to do most of what you'd want students to do. Other option is to create generic accounts and reuse them from class to class or trimester to trimester.