ALEX Learning Activity

In this activity, students will create a poster about computer hardware and software using Google Drawings (or other graphic design software). They will add facts about computer hardware and software from their note-taking graphic organizers. They will add images, graphics, or videos to their posters.

This learning activity was created as a result of the ALEX - Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) Resource Development Summit.

Students will compare and contrast computer hardware and computer software.

Students will use graphic design software to share the information they curated from Pebble Go.

1. Read through lesson objectives with students:

   Students will compare and contrast computer hardware and computer software.

   Students will use graphic design software to share the information they curated from Pebble Go.

2. The teacher will say, “Now that we have read our articles and found information about computer hardware and software it is time to create a poster to share your learning. We are going to use graphic design software to create our posters.”
3. The teacher will direct students to open a new Google Drawing using these instructions:

   • Open Google Drive
   • Click “New”
   • Click “Google Drawings.”
   • Note: If the teacher and/or students do not have access to Google Drawings, another type of graphic design software can be used. 

4. The teacher will show a sample Google Drawings poster. The sample provided in this activity may be used or the teacher can create their own sample.
5. The teacher will model how to add text boxes, shapes, and images to Google Drawings (or other graphic design software).
6. Students will then create their posters. The teacher will circulate around the room to answer questions and gauge progress.
7. The posters should include a title, the facts curated from the articles, one similarity and one difference between hardware and software, one image, and a text box citing where they found their information.

The poster will be gathered and evaluated to determine the level of understanding of the similarities and differences between computer hardware and software.

The poster will serve as a formative assessment for both standards.

Each poster must include the following:

• Title
• Facts curated from the articles
• One similarity between computer hardware and software
• One difference between computer hardware and software
• One image
• Text box citing where they found their information

Approximate Duration: 30-45 minutes.

Materials/Resources

• Completed Note-taking graphic organizer from During Activity
• Sample Poster
• Google Drawings - Accessed through Google Drive (Students and teacher will need Google Accounts) - or access to another graphic design software
• Internet Capable Devices for the teacher and the students
• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• Canva (acceleration activity only) - this will require a free account.

Materials/Background

The teacher will need to be familiar with using Google Drawings in order to model how to create a poster. Teachers need to create a sample poster or use the one provided to show students what is expected. They will also need to be familiar with Canva in order to answer any questions from the extension students.

The students need to be familiar with adding text boxes and images in Google Drawings.

Acceleration - These students may choose to use Canva to create their posters. This tool is a little bit more complicated than using Google Drawings and offers many more features. Let these students explore the tools and create their posters on their own with minimal teacher direction. They could work on this independently or in a group. (As long as students know how to add text and images to a digital document, they should be able to figure out how to use Canva with minimal teacher direction.)

Intervention - These students can be pulled into a small group with the teacher to create their poster with the teacher's direction. 

This activity should be used after Hardware and Software with Pebble Go Part 1 and Part 2.

This activity will also address standard DLCS18.3.13 - Communicate key ideas and details collaboratively in a way that informs, persuades, and/or entertains, using digital tools.

Your school librarian could be a great co-teacher for this lesson.