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This is the first issue of the Canvastic
Community Newsletter. This publication will help support
the use of the popular publishing software product, Canvastic. Registered
users are automatically subscribed to the newsletter but anyone
can sign up at www.canvastic.com/community/.
Issues will contain lesson plans or activities, tips, news and useful Internet links. Your participation is encouraged. Please send ideas for inclusion to newsletter@canvastic.com.
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Tip
How do change the size of a picture I have created with the paint
tools?
- Use one of the selection tools to select the picture.
- Cut the selection out of the canvas with the Cut command under
the Edit menu.
- Select any Object tool to enter the object environment.
- Paste the selection into the canvas with the Paste command
under the Edit menu. Note: the picture has become an object with
handles rather than the selection rectangle.
- Grab one of the corner handles and click, hold and drag. If
you drag into the center of the picture is will get smaller. Drag
out from the center and it will grow.
- The picture can remain as an object or you can reverse the
process by cutting it out, selecting any Paint tool, and pasting
it back in.
News
Single-User License for Technology Teachers Continues
Canvastic, LLC continues to offer a free license to every technology
teacher everywhere!
If you have purchasing power for software or recommend the purchase
of software for your school or district, you qualify for a complimentary
single-user license of Canvastic. We believe that you will see the
power and control of the learning environment that Canvastic affords.
To take advantage of the special offer, complete a brief on-line
tour at www.canvastic.com/techteacheroffer/
that introduces you to the product's features. This URL is specific
and is not linked from the main web site. If you know teachers that
might be interested in this offer, please forward this newsletter
to them.
At the end of the tour you can download the latest version. You
will receive a registration email message within 24 hours with a
personal serial number to un-lock the demonstration version that
is always available for download at www.canvastic.com.
Conferences
We will be demonstrating Canvastic at some upcoming educational
technology conferences.
We know that technology integration specialists like you have
very little time to waste. With that in mind we are hosting and
updating an easy-to-find on-line resource that will help you make
the most of using Canvastic with your students. You will find lessons,
templates and more. Check it out!
Fund Raising Opportunity
You can offer Canvastic to your students to use at home for a discount
and raise funds for your school at the same time. Call us for details
at 877-579-8207. It is easy and you can raise $10 for each copy
of Canvastic that your students buy.
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Lesson Plan
Title: Story Problem Presentations
Description
This lesson will provide the opportunity for students to author,
analyze, solve, explain and publish a detailed multi-part math story
problem with the solution. The problem and solution along with graphic
aides will be published in a presentation format with Canvastic.
The students will write the story problem, the solution and create
graphics which will illustrate the problem. While this specific
lesson plan is aimed at 4-7 grade, it can be adapted for younger
students as well.
This activity will integrate math, language and technology skills
in an authentic setting. The problems can be aimed at the students’
own math level or below. Students will more fully understand the
steps required to complete multi-part math problems. Their skill
on those problems should increase. Students will gain experience
in clearly stating directions and instructions in a written form.
Procedure
1. Introduce the project in the classroom, not the lab. Have the
students use their Math text books as a resource of examples. Lead
the discussion towards an understanding that there are some problems
which are multi- step. Explain that they will be publishing a multi-media
presentation with 5 parts; The Title and credits, The Problem, Graphic
Hints, Call to Solve, and the Solution. Have them begin thinking
about what they will write. Some will want to write it at home but
ask that they only take notes on their ideas and do the actual writing
in the lab, later.
2. In the lab, use the Canvastic word processing tool to write the
first draft of the problems. The teacher will need to advise during
this step. The problems should be neither too hard nor too easy.
The difficulty could be adjusted depending on your intended audience
(i.e. their own grade level or an earlier one). The focus should
be on making the problem interesting. Do not allow any editing or
spell checking. Assign the solution of their problem as homework
if they haven't already done it. Have them save this page as the
“problem work page”.
3. In the lab, open the problem from the previous session. Use the
spell check feature, and proof reading skills to edit and revise
the problem. The teacher should counsel those students whose problems
are too easy or miss the mark. The goal is to make it clear, complete,
and grammatically perfect. Depending on the functional level of
the student and magnitude of the mistakes, more or less teacher
help may be needed. Formatting, such as font, size, color, etc.
is not needed. In fact, this is better left to the presentation
creation steps.
4. In the lab, use the Canvastic word processing tool to write the
first draft of the solutions. The teacher will need to advise during
this step. The solutions should be complete. Mathematical terms
should be used correctly. Clarity should be the focus of the writing.
Do not allow any editing or spell checking. Have them save this
page as the “solution work page”.
5. In the lab, open the solution from the previous session. Use
proof reading skills to edit and revise the solution. The goal is
to make it grammatically perfect. Depending on the functional level
of the student and magnitude of the mistakes, more or less teacher
help may be needed. Formatting, such as font, size, color, etc.
is not needed. In fact, this is better left to the presentation
creation steps.
6 & 7. In the lab, use the Canvastic graphics tools to create
the graphic aids for the problems. These are meant to illustrate
the problem and make it easier for the reader to grasp the details.
Besides the graphic aids for solving the problem, you may want them
to create a graphic to appear on the title page of the presentation.
Have them save this page as the “graphics work page”.
They may need more than one graphics work page.
8 & 9. In the lab, use Canvastic to begin the actual publishing
of the project. Begin with a new document for every “page
or screen ” of the finished product. Have them name the pages
sequentially. This will help with assembling the pages in order.
Have them create the Title and credits (1), the Problem (2), Graphic
Hints (3), Call to Solve (4), and the Solution (5) pages. Care should
be taken to arrange the text and graphics on screen for the best
visual effect. Text and graphics created can be selected, copied,
and pasted into the final pages from the work pages. Have the students
save often.
Give the students a "tour" of Slide Show controls found
under the File menu. Especially note how you can add all the pages
from their folder, drag to re-arrange the slides and use the –
and + buttons to delete and add pages.
Have them fill in the appropriate text on the Call to Solve page.
This page might give a hint about how to start or how many steps
are needed.
10. This is show day(s)! Each Problem Presentation can be shown
to the class on the large lab screen as a math assignment. The presentations
could be running on the student stations and the students could
rotate through.
Optional: Presentations are easily turned into web graphics for
display on the school web site. Use the Export command under the
File menu to save pages into web friendly formats.
Needs and Preparation
- Experience with reading and solving written math problems.
(Story Problems)
- Time for an in-depth language, math, and technology integrated
activity. (10 sessions are likely)
- An accessible folder for saving pages of the project. Name
pages sequentially.
- Good story problem examples, from the students' math books
or other resources, to use as models.
- Explain the use of the ready made templates in Canvastic. The
example shows the Fractions choice from the Slide Show Frames.
Examples
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Links
Math Links
Kids Math Word Problems Level 1 www.syvum.com/math/wordproblems/level1.html
Kids Math Word Problems Level 2 www.syvum.com/math/wordproblems/level2.html
Visual Fractions www.visualfractions.com/
Canvastic Links
Home Page: www.canvastic.com
Download: www.canvastic.com/support/download/
Community Page: www.canvastic.com/community/
Tour: www.canvastic.com/techteacheroffer/
Sponsor
www.academicsuperstore.com
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800-817-2347
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Volume 1 Issue 1 