10 Technology Enhanced Alternatives to Book Reports
Kelly Tenkely is a technology teacher in a private school. Kelly also trains teaching staff on integrating and implementing technology into the classroom.
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"The most dreaded word in school reading for students: book reports. Teachers assign them, viewing them as a necessary component of assessing reading comprehension. Book reports can be a contributing factor to ‘readicide’. “Read-i-cide n: The systematic killing of the love of reading, often exacerbated by the inane, mind-numbing practices found in schools.” (http://stenhouse.com/html/readicide.htm.) So, how can we as teachers continue to monitor our students understanding of reading material without killing the love of reading?"
1. Let students create a cartoon version of the book they have just finished.
2. Let students create a short video clip about the book.
3. Create a virtual poster advertising the book.
4. Encourage students to create their own virtual bookshelves (Use a Book site like Shelfari http://shelfari.com.)
5. Book Adventure http://bookadventure.org is an online reading motivation program.
6. Bookcasting is a recorded audio podcast about a book.
7. Allow students to create a timeline of events in the story they just read in an online timeliner
8. Wikis are an excellent place for students to share book reviews.
9. Try Book Wink http://bookwink.topi
10. Use Voice Thread http://voicethread.com
"Technology brings interest back into reading and helps students continue to find reading that they enjoy while providing the teacher with feedback about student reading comprehension. These are great alternatives to book reports that will keep your students from ‘readicide’. Most of the above tools have the added benefit of being able to be embedded into a classroom blog, website, or wiki. All student projects can be collected, organized, and viewed in one place."
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