Genially Mini-Project: The History of the Selfie and Photography
Project Stages and Activities
The project was structured into several stages to guide students through the process in a clear and organized way:
Forming groups. Students were divided into small groups based on their interests and skill sets. They brainstormed key moments in the history of photography and the rise of the selfie. This project was part of the final part of the didactic unit in their books so, all students worked on the same topic.
Timeline creation – Each group researched on different historical events, photographers, and technological advancements in photography. They used timelines in Genially to structure their data. I gave them the facts to guide them in a clearer way.
Small group discussions – Students shared their research in small groups to prepare for their presentations. The roles were previously defined. I let them to organize themselves but when trouble appeared.
Presentation preparation – Groups decided on the format of their presentation, Genially in this case, and rehearsed their speeches.
Final presentation & class discussion – Each group presented their project, and classmates asked questions or commented anything they considered relevant. I could carry out self-evaluation and coevaluation among all my students having in mind the topic was the same for all of them. They could participate since they had been working with the same materials.
To ensure collaboration and balanced participation, students were grouped based on complementary skills, some were strong in research, others in design or public speaking. The project was completed over two weeks, with each stage allocated specific class time to avoid excessive homework.
Here you have a link with a sample:
https://view.genially.com/67cabc0f633ca505e35beb43/presentation-who-took-the-first-selfieUsing digital tools like Genially made the project more engaging and helped students visualize historical developments interactively. The group discussions improved their communication and critical thinking skills, while the presentations enhanced their confidence in speaking English.
For future projects, I would introduce peer feedback earlier so students can refine their presentations before the final stage and I would allow for more creative formats, such as video storytelling or interactive exhibits.
Overall, the project was a success in fostering collaboration, research skills, and digital literacy, all while keeping students motivated and engaged since it was a current and motivational topic for them.
After reading this post about “Mini project with Genially: Who took the first selfie? I think the project was a great way to explore the history of photography and the rise of the selfie while improving our research, teamwork, and presentation skills. It was interesting to see how different groups focused on various aspects of photography, from historical events to technological advancements.
ResponderEliminarOne of the things I liked the most was the use of Genially. It made the timelines visually appealing and interactive, which helped us understand historical developments in a clearer way. Also, the group discussions allowed us to share ideas and improve our presentations before the final stage, making the process more collaborative.
However, some challenges appeared. In some cases, organizing the information and selecting the most relevant events was difficult, as there was a lot of material to cover. Also, while many students participated actively, a few could have been more involved in the discussions and presentations.
To improve this project, I think it would be helpful to introduce peer feedback earlier so that groups can refine their work before the final presentation. Additionally, allowing for more creative formats, such as short videos or interactive exhibits, could make the presentations even more engaging.
Overall, this was a very interesting and educational project. It helped us develop important skills while learning about a topic that connects history and modern digital culture. I would love to see more projects like this in the future!
Your blog is an excellent tool for encouraging creativity, reflection, and communication. It allows students to express their thoughts, organize ideas, and share opinions on the history of photography. It promotes writing for a real audience, which often increases motivation and engagement.
ResponderEliminarIn regards to improving it I can only suggest that not all users are confident writers, so we, as teachers, should provide clear guidelines or templates which could help them structure their posts more effectively.