Using Book Creator to develop Thinking Routines

by Paul Hamilton

I see...

I think...

Contents

Introduction from Paul

Teaching students to think

What makes you think that?

About the author

Prefer to read offline?

Press the 'Home' button to return to the contents page.

Introduction from Paul

1. Teaching students to think

Allow students to do the thinking in your classroom! Let them explore and struggle with thoughts, ideas and concepts. Give them time.

When we combine powerful, multimodal tools such as Book Creator, with tasks that encourage and foster creative thinking, deeper learning occurs and student thinking becomes more visible.

Why Book Creator and Thinking Routines?

Using Book Creator to develop thinking routines can occur across a range of structures.

Thinking routines are a combination of activities that teachers have been using for many years. They have been put together by the Project Zero team. Thinking routines play a crucial role in making student thinking more visible so that we plan more effective learning pathways for our students.

"Thinking routines encourage engagement. Not engagement on a screen but engagement in deeper thinking. There is a difference!"

Book Creator allows students to show thinking through a range of tools and mediums. From simple sketches to photos and video, to text and audio. Book Creator gives students the tools to showcase their thinking and learning.

The tools Book Creator offers allows all learners to show and record what they know and what questions they still have.

In this book we will highlight the thinking routines that have been used effectively with Book Creator. The routines that have engaged students and brought about deeper learning. Video tutorials of these routines can be found on YouTube.

What will we explore in this book?

In this book we will explore and give examples to help develop and foster the following routines:

Core Routines
Understanding Routines
Truth Routines
Creativity Routines

These routines will be consolidated and enhanced using the following tools within the app:

Photos and videos
Pen annotations
Text and audio
Shapes
Comic templates

I see...

I think...

I wonder...

FURTHER
READING

Making Thinking Visible
Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church, Karin Morrison

2. Colour-Symbol-Image

Think of the ideas and important elements.

This thinking routine can be applied to what students have read in class but it can also include what a guest speaker may have said or a big idea presented in a Ted Talk. Or even a visual a student may have seen on a website, newspaper or magazine.

"I have seen and heard amazing thoughts and reflections from students as a result of doing a CSI. Students are compelled to think deeply, to go beyond surface thinking."

Book Creator tools utilised to create a CSI effectively.

Focus on

Colour-Symbol-Image (CSI) is not about the product, but the thinking behind the product. Emphasise with your students that what they draw, sketch, or find can be used as a stimulus for their thinking. The text or audio justification is where the student thinking becomes visible.

Book Creator hot tip

Use the shape tool to create the symbol. By layering the same colour shapes over each other, students can create simple but effective symbols.

An example of layering shapes to create a symbol. A circle and a star has been combined to create a new, unique symbol.

Steps to create a Colour-Symbol-Image

Take a photo of the idea/concept to be studied.

Insert into a page in Book Creator.

Create 3 text headings - Colour, Symbol & Image.

Use the pen tool to represent a colour that best represents the essence of that idea.

Use the shape tool to create a symbol that best represents the essence of that idea.

An example of Colour-Symbol-Image for a historical event. This CSI was created for the Eureka Stockade, a significant event in Australia's history. The CSI contain reflections of the big ideas and impacts the event had on generations to come.

Use the pen tool to create an image that best represents the essence of that idea.

Use the audio or text tool to justify and explain why you chose that colour, symbol and image.

Going further

Book reviews and literary analysis are great tasks that can be developed with Colour-Symbol-Image. Find a video tutorial here.

“A powerful way to get kids to reflect on a range of different content”

3. Hotspots – a truth routine

Is it 'Fake News'?

Hotspots is a great 'Truth Routine' for the 21st Century. At a time when we are constantly inundated with information, our ability to think critically and question content has never been more important.

Focus on

You can rotate arrows and resize by dragging one of the anchor points.

Hotspots are a great way of starting a unit of study. Allow students to make predictions and get 'buy-in' with the topic. The justification audio/text recording may be a way of the students asking questions they have. Encourage students to ask 'Why?'.

"Hotspots is not about getting it right. It is about taking the first step into inquiry."

Book Creator hot tip

Double tap in the shape you bring in to layer text over the top. Change the colour of each shape to show where each statement has been placed.

An example of typing text directly on a shape.