Above is a photo of a sketchnote I created in class. It provides an ocean themed french definition page that allows students to learn new words in french without simply reading them. This is a more fun, interactive, and engaging method of translating information that could be used as a substitute for spelling tests and as a guideance for themed journals and projects. Using sketchnotes can benefit elementary grades by creating content that students find interest in and when having them create their own to help make meaningful connections to subjects and increase comprehension and retention.
A second subject we covered in class was pedagogical evaluation tools. The TPACK model is a method of evaluating educational content through technological, content, and pedagogical knowledge. These three components combined allow educators to promote student motivation and the accessibility of the content they create. Although the model is a useful tool to ensure that your content is engaging and accessible, I think you would have to have a really good understanding of each component to use it properly. However, the SAMR model that we also looked at in class takes an easier approach that is more accessible to educators with less background knowledge of the model. It allows you to rank the strength of the content out of 4. These four levels consist of substitution, augemntation, modification, and redefinition and are well described in a model illustrated by Sylvia Duckworth. You can see this model here.
