Recently I was invited to present at a conference of the
Northwest Association of Independent Schools on connections between books and
technology. Perhaps because I’m a writer married to a technology guy, I see the
potential for a rich marriage between books and multimedia resources on a given
topic.
For one thing, because of the Internet, students can get a
behind-the-scenes view of the research and writing that went into a book. Websites, Facebook pages, and blogs can (miraculously,
I think) connect students directly with authors. Many authors have websites (try
the author’s first and last name.com or do a google search by using the author’s
name and the word “author”). Author websites also often contain links that can
deepen students’ understanding of a book or topic.
For example, after reading Muckrakers by Ann Bausum, they can stop
by her website and click on the "photo
research" link for an interactive tutorial on how to conduct photo
research using the online collections of the Library of Congress.
After reading Bausum’s Unraveling Freedom, they can visit the page for that book and click on the "political cartoons" link to begin an interactive session about decoding political cartoons, using six cartoons from World War I.
After reading Bausum’s Unraveling Freedom, they can visit the page for that book and click on the "political cartoons" link to begin an interactive session about decoding political cartoons, using six cartoons from World War I.
Many authors also have Facebook pages which can give readers
insights into the on-going life of writers, updates on developments related to
their books, and play-by-play descriptions of their current work on new writing
projects. (I’m just getting mine going at https://www.facebook.com/authorelizabethrusch).
Some even write blogs or contribute to group blogs like this one. (Try googling
the author’s name and the word “blog,” or check author websites, which will
have links to their blogs.)
Many nonfiction authors write about current topics that are
still unfolding after the book has been published. The internet can continue
the story. For instance, after reading
Loree Griffin Burns’ The Hive Detective,
students can watch a TED talk about the plight of the honeybee or learn about pollinator conservation at the Xerces Society’s website.
Likewise,
after reading Steve
Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal, students can check
out what’s happening with the company now at http://www.apple.com/hotnews/ or read
recent articles about the company at www.techspot.com.
After reading my book, The
Mighty Mars Rovers: The incredible adventures of Spirit and Opportunity,
students can explore what the rover Opportunity is up to now (10 years after
landing!) at JPL’s website,
which includes regular mission updates, press releases, photos and videos; and
follow the newest rover Curiosity, too.
And after reading one of my
volcano books—Volcano Rising; Will it Blow? or Eruption! -- students can learn more about current on-going
eruptions at Earthweek;
Volcano Discovery,
which includes a map of recent eruptions and webcams at active volcanoes; and Smithsonian’sGlobal Volcanism Program,
which has both weekly updates of volcanic activity and an amazing searchable
database of past and current eruptions.
Think this only relates to current events? Think again. Fascinating additional reading and other
resources such as audio, films and websites related to American history, 1492
and onward, can be found on the website of the Zinn Ed Project, which is
searchable by theme, time period, document type and reading level.
You can also search by book. For instance, the entry for Gretchen Woelfle’s Mumbet’s Declaration of Independence, (https://zinnedproject.org/materials/mumbets-declaration-of-independence/)
links to actual court records from the lawsuit Mumbet brought against her
owners to win her freedom.
Multimedia
experiences can bring a book to life. After reading A Home for Mr. Emerson by Barbara Kerley, students can visit thehome online. They can view a slideshowfrom the New York Times about the caretaking
of the home, which Emerson bought in 1835; the site includes interior shots of
the home, including the rocking horse in the playroom and Emerson's hat,
hanging on the wall. To dig even deeper into
Emerson’s life, readers can go to an online exhibit by the Concord Free PublicLibrary with photos and essays about Emerson, which also features many primary source
documents.
If you want to offer your students a multimedia experience,
most likely you don’t have to do the research on the best resources yourself. Many
nonfiction authors include a list of the best multimedia resources in the back
matter of their books or on their websites. Check them out – and send your
students to them, too. You’ll both be enriched by the experience.
Elizabeth Rusch
1 comment:
Excellent ideas for adding to the book through media. Thanks!
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