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Storyboard That

Mindprint Rating

Tags

ELA: Reading ELA: Writing ^Music, Art and Makerspaces Study Skills & Tools ^21st Century Skills Social-Emotional Learning All Ages Website

Skills

Flexible Thinking Organization Verbal Reasoning Abstract Reasoning Spatial Perception

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • A versatile tool that adults can use to help students apply lessons in storytelling, sequencing, plot and many other subjects.
  • The broad variety of options allows students to demonstrate their creativity even though they are using standardized tools.
  • Provides an active, visual approach that most students will enjoy.

Considerations

  • While most students will appreciate the vast number of options, spending time making those choices and customizing is an easy distraction from applying critical thinking skills.
  • Might be more flexibility than is necessary for school-based audiences.

Mindprint Expert Review

Storyboard That is an excellent digital storytelling program that provides a wide range of possibilities to enable students to create visual stories, visual timelines and other presentations while demonstrating knowledge and creativity. The program is suitable for young students and adults, but it will be important for adults to provide appropriate support depending on the student and project goals. Students begin with a blank template and drag and drop background scenes, characters, props, etc. into each panel to create a story sequence. Accompanying text can be added to the panels using speech bubbles, text boxes or signage. Students will rely on critical thinking, planning and organization skills as they map out their boards. While most users will appreciate the extensive variety in settings, characters, colors, etc. that encourages creativity, the number of choices could overwhelm some younger students or those with weaker skills who could get caught up in the visual details rather than focusing on the more important theme and communication skills. Adults will appreciate the breadth of lesson plans across subjects. Overall, a well-designed, high quality site that can be an effective way to engage students in critical thinking and communication.

Academic Benefits

Improves academic skills

  • Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
  • Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
  • Presents educational concepts accurately
  • Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
  • Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
  • Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
  • Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

Fun

Engaging for the Mindprint recommended age range

  • Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
  • Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
  • Visually appealing to children in the target age range
  • Provides virtual rewards or incentives after meeting specified goals or objectives
  • Provides a "break activity" between academic problem sets
  • Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
  • Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

Easy to Use

Understandable for children in the Mindprint recommended age range

  • Has a free or trial version
  • Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
  • Provides an age-appropriate tutorial/first time users can work independently
  • Student should be able to use independently after first use
  • Has a multi-player option to foster in-person collaboration or cooperation
  • Multiple users can save a profile
  • Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
  • Can play without sound and not distract others
  • Students can save work between sessions
  • Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
  • Requires registration before using the first time
  • Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
  • Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
  • Overall - Easy to use

Cognitive Concerns

May not be advisable for students with the following cognitive needs

  • Organization
    • Directions may be confusing for students using independently
    • Students might need support with navigation