Category: Classes 23

Posted on

Class 2: Teaching with Images

Teaching with Images

Photo by Soragrit Wongsa on Unsplash

This class will focus on how to teach with images. We will brainstorm some image teaching ideas. And we’ll learn how to find public domain / copyright free image and how to add image blocks to a WordPress post.

FINDING PUBLIC DOMAIN / COPYRIGHT FREE IMAGES

For more information on public domain searches visit our Working with Images page. You will also find a collection of “How-To” videos there.

In class activity
  1. Students will work in small groups to find some images and turn them into a short learning activity. Group work will be posted on this shared Google Slide.
  2. Student groups will also review a selected student post and evaluate how prior students made use of images to design a lesson. Post your comments on same Google slide.
FEATURED IMAGES IN WORDPRESS

Students will learn how to make a “Featured Image” for their WordPress posts. Then they will create one to add to last week’s post. A WordPress “Featured Image” should have a portrait format image. It appears in the top of the post and serves as an “icon” for the post on WordPress and social media. Students use a small or medium size version of image.

Option: Students MAY add text “over” the featured post image using a variety of apps – Canva, Adobe Spark Post, or any other app like PowerPoint or Keynote that lets you add text over images and save as a JPG or PNG file.

WordPress Image blocks

Students will be introduced to WordPress image block styles and how to work with each one.

Image, Cover and Media and Text use a single image.

Image compare uses two images

The other blocks use multiple images.

Click this link to see how-to videos for using image blocks

Sample WordPress Image Blocks

Assignment 2: Design an Image-based Learning Activity | Image activities 23-A2

We will use this assignment as a chance to practice our public domain search skills. It will also involve a bit of curation to decide which images to use. Plus we can explore ways to use images to support instruction. 

Students should design a post that features at least two image blocks. (For example a Gallery and an Image compare.)

Here’s some student posts from previous students.

Post guidelines:
  1. Students should use TWO different image blocks to design a short image-based learning activity. 
  2. For example:  vocabulary, pre-reading activity, close reading of image, compare / contrast, continuity / change, activate prior knowledge etc.
  3. Context of lesson – target students (grade, course)
  4. Instructions for the student.
  5. All images should be in the public domain.
  6. All images should have an active hyperlink back to the source. (Always be sure to check your links.)
  7. Interesting title for the post
  8. Featured image for the post
Posted on

Class 1: Tell a Story with WordPress

Tell a Story with WordPress

Image source: Pixabay / Mysticsartdesign

Most of class will consist of one-on-one meetings with students and instructor – while rest of class works on their first post. Students will also receive an overview of the course and expectations.

See screencast video below: “Get Started with WordPress Blocks“

Intro to WordPress web publishing 

All classes and student work will be published to this site. We do this to motivate both the instructor and students to do their best work – since “the world is watching.” WordPress is a simple and popular way to create a website. And it’s a great skill to have – because WordPress is used by roughly 1 out of every 3 websites in the world.

Assignment 1: “Tell an Ed Story with Web Content” | WordPress Stories 23-A3

Students will create their first web post and have a chance to get familiar with WordPress platform. Guided practice time will be provided during class, so that students can get personalized assistance. 

The goal of this first assignment is learning to work with WordPress Blocks – choose them, insert them, move them around and edit your post.

While the content of the post is secondary to the process, you should choose a theme that lets you “tell” an educational story. For example a theme such as:

  • My student life …
  • My old school / or teachers that inspired me.
  • Best or worse ideas for teachers (or students).
  • Letter to my future (teacher) self.
  • An education-related story or fairytale.
  • Any other education -related prompt that supports the task.

While much of your post will be text, use at least 5 WordPress embeds from other sources to illustrate or elaborate on your narrative. Embed can include:

  • Click “Plus” icon and long list of blocks appear. Scroll to bottom for embeds.
  • Or use the search form to search for box. For example “TikTok”

You can find WordPress Embed blocks at the bottom of the block list. You might try:

  • GIFs from Giphy
  • Posts from Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Imgur, Pinterest
  • Videos from YouTube, Vimeo, TED
  • Audio from Spotify or MixCloud
  • Other embeds supported by WordPress

Note: Only GIFs have a built in search by topic. All others require first finding the content on the destination platform and then copy the URL into the appropriate WordPress embed block. Most platforms have a share button that leads to a URL you can copy.

Your post should include:

  1. Clever title – be creative with this.
  2. Some explanatory text using Paragraph or Headings blocks.
  3. At least 5 embeds from list above (use as many as you want from any one source)
  4. NO IMAGES for now – next week we will learn how to find public domain images and add them to your posts. 

Resources