Students as Designers (animal classification)

As a result of the learning going on in my cohort as well as my classroom, I decided to quiz my at on their knowlege of different animal classifications. I first reviewed many characteristics of different animals with my class and put those classifications onto sheets of paper. I also put the names of different animals on sheets of paper. The names of animal groups were also put onto sheets of paper for students to manipulate. Students were asked to figure out how all of these sheets of paper could be put together to inform others as to animal characteristics, names, and actual pictures of animals. This afternoon, as a class, we put the organizing into action. It was important for students to figure out, on their own, what needed to go where. As this week progresses, students will use Inspiration to design an Animal Classification Web to display their knowlege of animal classification. They will need to figure out how make the presentation educational as well as appealing to the readers eye. They will also need to include examples of each animal in their sections of the web.

I don't know if this is a good example of student design, but I am trying to get them to think about organizing information in an appealing educational way that includes text and visual graphics.

Stay tuned.