Authoring Software Applications

There are several Authoring Software applications available for classroom and home computers. When considering purchase of an application, consider the operating system (or “OS”), system requirements, and required peripheral devices before purchase.

The authoring software applications discussed in this workshop include:

• HyperStudio
• BuildAbility
• IntelliPics Studio
• Ezedia

HyperStudio

HyperStudio http://www.hyperstudio.com serves as a literacy tool for the early childhood classroom. With HyperStudio, each page created is saved as a card. Cards may contain photos, drawings, written text, animation, sounds, movies, and recorded voices.

A series of HyperStudio cards are combined and referred to as “a stack”. Stacks can be designed similar to the pages in a book, each page or card changed in sequence to add to the theme or story. Children can determine what happens on each card and how they will move to the next card.

A tutorial for learning HyperStudio is available online.

Extended HyperStudio Activity

One popular activity is to make a classroom book of a shared experience, such as a field trip.

1. During field trips, children can take digital photographs.
2. Download photos to the computer. Each child can create a multimedia authoring story by using the field trip photos.
3. Print each child's story using a color printer.
4. Laminate the pages.
5. Bind the pages and photos together to create a book. Individual or group books can be created.
6. Share the finished product with the classroom and families.

View “HyperStudio, An Affordable Software Alternative” PDF

View HyperStudio 4.0

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HyperStudio Curriculum Activities

“All About Me”

Children love telling stories about themselves. The “All About Me” activity in which children tell a story about themselves and share the story with others is a children's favorite.

View “All About Me” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“Interactive Field Trip”

Field trips can be captured on disk and viewed at family nights, during open house, and in other early childhood classrooms or shared at home and in the reading center.

View “Interactive Field Trip” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“Babies”

An activity in which children remember what is was like being babies.

“Bats“

Facts about bats in an interactive format.

View “Bats” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“Friends Around the World”

Activity in which children tell stories about their friends.

	View “Friends Around the World” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“I Went Walking”

Children make observations and record their stories into a authoring program.

	View “I Went Walking” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“Kooky Colors”

An activity that involves rhyming words with colors.

View “Kooky Colors” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“Mouse Views”

Children will sharpen their observation skills and make connections between pictures and the written word.

View “Mouse Views” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“Nutrition”

This activity will allow children to learn about choosing and eating healthy and foods.

View “Nutrition” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“Self-Portrait”

Children will learn more about themselves and those around them.

View “Self Portrait” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“The Gingerbread Man”

Provides opportunities for children to share thoughts and ideas about the Gingerbread Man.

“The Mitten Tree”

An activity that provides children an opportunity to talk about similarities and differences and how sometimes "things" get lost.

View “The Mitten Tree” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“The Songs We Sing”

Songs are designed to facilitate a connection to print with words from songs visible to all children.

View “The Songs We Sing” HyperStudio Activity PDF

“What Do You Hear?“

An activity with stories that have repetitive language.

View “What Do You Hear?” HyperStudio Activity PDF

System Requirements for HyperStudio 4.0

ITLC Online --  -- http://www.wiu.edu/itlc/

Copyright 2005. All Rights Reserved. Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood Education at Western Illinois University.