Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling involves using computer-based tools to produce 2-10 minute stories.  Many times, the tools that are used are images, text, recorded audio, video clips, and music.  These tools add rich detail to stories that paper-based books sometimes are unable to do.  Digital storytelling also provides “Twenty-first Century Literacy” skills for readers.  These literacy skills include digital, global, technology, visual, and informational. In addition, digital storytelling has shown to improve students’ research, writing, organization, presentation, and problem-solving skills in a fun and unique way.   

Digital storytelling can provide strong connections to all content areas.  One way that I might use digital storytelling in my classroom is with Social Studies.  Digital storytelling allows students to explore historical themes and research themes that are not well known to them.  The aide of video clips and images can really bring a historical story to life for that child.  In addition, students can also create oral histories, life stories, narratives, autobiographies and so much more. 

In our READ class, we discuss was to make reading enjoyable for struggling readers.  One way to do this is by having the struggling student write a story, which is then typed up.  This story can then be a piece of literature that he/she can read naturally multiple times and enjoy.  You can take this idea one step further and have the student create a digital story (instead of just plain text).

Lastly, for younger graders, we could make a whole class story (fiction/nonfiction). We could collectively write a story and then each student could be responsible for drawing a picture - which I could then assemble.  Digital storytelling is possible for any grade level!   

Check out the University of Houston’s Digital Storytelling Website for lots of great resources:

http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/index.html

A WebQuast Full of Earthquakes

WebQuests are lessons in which most or all of the information that learners view comes from the Internet.  It is an inquiry-based assignment that allows children to explore and answer questions either individually or as a group.  This classroom-based activity involves content that is preselected by the teacher and requires higher order thinking.  In a good Webquest, there is normally an introduction, task, process, resources, conclusion and an evaluation.  

While searching for WebQuests to view, I found one that leads students to learn about earthquakes.  I found this WebQuest to be one that will keep students on-task while online and foster cooperative learning.  In this WebQuest, the students need to work in groups of three.  The task given to the students were:

1.            Investigate recent natural disasters that have been caused by movements of the earth.

2.            Propose some ways for organizations to react when a disaster happens.

3.      Share your ideas with the class in a PowerPoint presentation which includes pages made by each person in the group. When you present your information, each person in the group will present information and ideas orally. 

The main goal of this WebQuest is to “provide a recommendation for an international relief organization about how people should respond to natural disasters caused by earthquakes.”  Students need to investigate recent earthquakes and the effects that they had on people’s lives in order to write their recommendations.  

This WebQuest contains all of the essential information and provides a good task for students.  I would have liked to see a video or two or more photographs because I think that students would benefit from those types of resources.  I would recommend this WebQuest to students in grades 3 and above and believe that it could be used in a classroom as a good extension to the material. 


Earthquake WebQuest

Unleash the Artist in You

There is something about Disney that makes everyone light up inside and even makes adults feel like little kids again.  Disney is always coming up with new, exciting, and innovative ideas to keep our minds busy; and now we can be creators of Disney too!  With the help of Disney.com's Create, creativity can be fostered.  Aside from viewing the current Disney movies, videos, and games that are already out in the media, we can design our own forms of entertainment to share with others!     

On the Disney.com's Create website, you can paint, make comics, animated pets, flip books, music videos, and critique photos.  You do not need to download anything or pay for a subscription; everything is right on the website for you!  If you want, you have the ability to create an account to store your artwork.      

Disney’s Create offers numerous ways for you to interact with your favorite Disney TV or movie characters through drawings. Disney has developed a series of “apps” that you can use during your designs.  There are apps for all different things Disney; such as Phineas and Ferb, Mickey Mouse, Hannah Montana and much more.  As stated on the Parents Choice Awards website, “Each of the apps uses an intuitive drawing interface through which kids can add backgrounds, change colors, stamp images, resize objects and use a host of drawing features.”   If you are new user, you can watch instructional videos that walk you step-by-step through the use of the app.

Disney.com’s Create fosters learning by allowing you to be imaginative!  It challenges you to think of new ideas and provides you with the right amount of guidance.  This website will direct you to learn so many new things and not feel like you are doing work at all.  Tie in some text to your flipbook, add lyrics to a music video, and really “wow” your friends. 

Anyone of all ages can find something that inspires them on this website.  If you are looking for something new to do, try out Disney.com’s Create website and unleash the artist in you! 

http://disney.go.com/create/

Watch.Know.Learn and be Educated

Watch.Know.Learn and be Educated

Although it is our instinct to jump onto YouTube to find a video, many –if not all- school systems have blocked this site.  Luckily, there are other student friendly sites that we can access to promote learning.

WatchKnowLearn is a fantastic tool for teachers!  It provides an ample amount of educational videos and songs that can be tailored to your student’s age level and content.  Many of us are already familiar with Discovery Education and WatchKnowLearn acts very similarly to Discovery Education. Throughout my teaching experience thus far, I have relied heavily on Discovery Education for many of my video references.  For those who have access to an account, whether it is through a school or your own personal account, Discovery Education is a beneficial tool to help reinforce content in another way.  The only down side about Discovery Education is that you do need to pay to use this site.  WatchKnowLearn, on the other hand, is absolutely free.  The site does ask you to create a login name and password, but for no additional cost. 

On the WatchKnowLearn website, there is an option to view Press documents.  As I was searching through the list of press videos, I came across an interview with Tom Pittman the founder of this website and ABC 24 News in Memphis.  Tom Pittman states in his interview that “technology can be used to engage students” and “when you go into a classroom you see all children’s eyes on the video and you know they are learning”.  Further on into his interview he reveals that the site provides a directory of about 14,000 videos.  The videos are categorized and approved by a panel of about 200 teachers before they go on the site.  Teachers can find videos that range from ages 3-18 and can narrow their search according to content.   Finally, Tom Pittman concludes that anyone can submit a video.  All they need to do is click “add video” which then goes into a directory for the panel to review.  Once it is approved the video will be posted.

WatchKnowLearn is a website that not only aids educators, children, and parents, but provides a learning community.  Anyone has access to the information and therefore provides an endless amount of learning opportunities.  I have already found helpful videos to share with my 3^rd grade class!  You should take a look too!  Click on the link below to direct you to the website!

 www.watchknowlearn.org

iTeach Using iPads... and You Should Too!

The world of technology is quickly transforming how we as teachers construct how we teach and also opening up doors to endless resources and possibilities.  Apple’s iPad has been released and is flooding the school systems and our communities with its assistance.  Categorized somewhere in between a cell phone and a laptop, this tablet offers applications that support teaching and learning with just one tap of your finger.  The iTunes store provides hundreds of thousands of applications developed by institutions that incorporate interaction and exploration.  The iPad allows children have the ability to work independently and gain insightful information through countless games, videos, audios, animation, and many more tools!

With the help of the iPad, reading is no longer restricted to thick textbooks.  The iPad’s screen is large enough to view texts and is beginning to serve as a valid substitute for printed textbooks.  Reading becomes more fun for the students and invites them to engage in a way that a textbook cannot provide.

            With any new discovery there are a few obstacles along the way.  The most obvious hurdle with new technology is the cost.  Purchasing an iPad is not cheap and to obtain more than one in your classroom is a luxury.  A few schools are writing grants in order to get a set for their school.  Mountain View Elementary school in Rockingham County is an example of one school that has been successful.  The school has a set of 25 iPads that can be checked out for two hour-long slots.  Teachers have embraced the iPads and are constantly utilizing them in their classrooms during all subjects throughout the day. 

            You are seeing iPads appear in the schools more frequently.  It is important for us as educators to be aware of these resources and to be able to utilize them to improve our teaching and to increase student engagement.  I have used iPads in the classrooms and have been blown away by how absorbed my students are!  If you have not already, I encourage you to take some time to check out this great tool that is slowly transforming students' learning!  You never know... you might just get hooked yourself!     

Use this link to help you find out more information about iPads!

net.educause.edu