KID PIX STUDIO

Class 1

The objective of the class: get to know the drawing possibilities offered by KidPix. Learn how to work with he “crazy” crayon, a line, rectangle, oval and the “crazy” brush. Learn how to choose different colours.

The content of the class: The possibilities for using each tool will be projected on the screen. Every tool is being introduced separately: the teacher will give a demonstration on the screen, the students will try it in their computer. For example, the “crazy” crayon – the teacher will demonstrate lines of different thickness, shows how to choose colours and draws. The students will try to do the same in their computers; draw a straight red line, rectangle and oval shape (the choice of pattern is free for everybody).

The speed for the class: there are 25 students in the class, so the work was done in two groups. The time for completing the work 25 + 20 minutes. When the second group started, there was no special demonstration given for them.

Actual results: The students who had used computers before were able to draw more and used many various options. These meeting the computer for the first time faced some problems: the mouse did not obey and they were not able to find the required tool so fast. Still, all the students got some skills of using different tools from this class.

Computer skills obtained: the students learned how to manage mouse.

Class 2

The objective of the class: get to know the drawing possibilities offered by KidPix. Learn how to work with he “crazy” crayon, pots of paint, eraser, cancelling tool. Repeat using the tools you learnt about during the previous class.

The content of the class: The possibilities for using each tool will be projected on the screen. The demonstration was given by single tools. Separate demonstration was given on the interesting options offered by the “crazy” crayon. Finally an exercise: draw a picture with a house, trees, the Sun, some clouds.

The speed for the class: there are 25 students in the class, so the work was done in two groups. The time for completing the work 25 + 20 minutes. When the second group started, there was no special demonstration given for them. Those who had better skills made a better picture.

Actual results:

I – students thinking of and willing to learn about the easier and more sensible ways of computer use are able to use the options offered by a computer.

II – students working hard are drawing, but they do not see the options that would take them to the results in an easier way.

III – students with better knowledge and preparation will act faster, although they are not always taking most efficient ways.

Computer skills obtained: the students learn how to enter and exit KidPix studio and get a new worksheet.

Class 3

The objective of the class: get to know the drawing possibilities offered by KidPix. Repeat using the tools you learnt about during the previous class. Learn how to use alphabetical texts and keyboard.

The content of the class: the possibilities of using the alphabete were projected on the screen. The students will try out different letter combinations and use different shapes of letter. Exercise: Think of the project “Milk and health of a school kind” and draw rivers of milk and mountains of porridge, castles of yoghurt, clouds of ice-cream, etc. Write names to different objects.

The speed for the class: there are 25 students in the class, so the work was done in two groups. The time for completing the work 25 + 20 minutes. When the second group started, there was no special demonstration given for them. Those who were slower needed more time for thinking and doing the actual work.

Actual results: The students who had worked with computer before made rather nice pictures and we also able to write some comments to them, the children with less skills ran out of time. The pictures completed were real cool.

Computer skills obtained: the students learn how to use keyboard.

Class 4

The objective of the class: get to know the drawing possibilities offered by KidPix.

The content of the class: use all the things learnt and draw a picture of a street containing a street for cars, sidewalk and crossing path for the pedestrians, traffic lights, trees, houses and all the other things that should be there.

The speed for the class: the work was done in two groups, the time for completing the work 20 + 20 minutes.

Actual results:

I –Students who were smart enough to use all the options available (traffic light – rectangle, lights of the traffic light – circles, etc)

II – students who used crayon for drawing everything (they were drawing boxes, circles, etc.). Still, everybody completed pictures and the angles were also different.

Computer skills obtained: the students are entering and exiting the program with confidence – they are able to do it with no special guidance.

Class 5

The objective of the class: get to know the drawing possibilities offered by KidPix.

The content of the class: use all the things learnt and draw a picture or a card to celebrate the 80^th anniversary of the school. Write congratulations to accompany the picture.

The speed for the class: the work was done in two groups, the time for completing the work 20 + 20 minutes.

Actual results: everybody completed their work and very many different ideas and tools were used.

Computer skills obtained: the students are entering and exiting the program with confidence – they are able to do it with no special guidance.

Class 6

The objective of the class: get to know the drawing possibilities offered by KidPix. Getting to know the removal van, the ways to use it. Get acquainted to Moopie.

The content of the class: draw a picture of winter that contains the Sun, a snowman, clouds, snow castle, trees. Use the removal van and take some of the objects to a more suitable place. Moopie – try to make a moving picture.

The speed for the class: 15 minutes + 15 minutes to draw a picture and use the removal van. 15 minutes to act with Moopie.

Actual results:

I –Students who were smarter learnt the trick and looked for a chance to do something else. They also tried to all the trick provided by eraser.

II – students who needed more time and had it sufficiently. When using Moopie, they could try whatever they liked.

Computer skills obtained: the students are entering and exiting the program with confidence – they are able to do it with no special guidance.

Teacher Aigi Laine

Grade 4, autumn of 1998