We are truly living in the digital age. With that in mind moving storytelling into digital form seems to be a natural progression. The text by Courtney (2007) provides the best definition of digital storytelling that I have found. It gives clear guidelines of what is included in digital stories (still images, video clips, voiceover narrative, and music). Additionally, the University of Washington website provides great information in the essential section. The seven elements included provide an excellent outline of what to consider when creating a digital story. While all of the elements are good, the element of economy and pacing are two that stand out for me. When telling a story we often try to tell too much, but it is very important to give viewers just enough without over loading them. Also, pacing can really make a difference in how engaging a story is to the viewer. The goals and objectives of digital storytelling point out that creating digital story allow students to synthesis large amounts of information and organize it for an audience. This allows students to get to those higher order skills. So often teachers get cookie cutter projects from students, I like the fact that digital storytelling allows student to add their creativity and individuality to their project. One way that media specialist can aid in creating digital stories is to provide resources for students like finding video clips, pictures, and music. Media specialist can also instruct students in the use of the Movie Maker technology.
As for ebooks, currently our media center does not have any fiction or nonfiction ebooks. While we don’t have any online encyclopedia, we do have access to encyclopedias on DVD. Most of the reference materials in our media center are print. We do have access to Galileo and Nettreker. I think that there is room for ebooks in media centers. Ebooks provide access to books using different technologies including online.
Courtney, N. (2007). Library 2.0 and beyond: Innovative technologies and tomorrow's user. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
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As a special education teacher, I can see digital storytelling taking off in the resource class. Often, teachers of students with special needs have more money for technology. Also, this would be great way to work with children in an age-appropriate way when they are reading and writing on an elementary level but are in middle or high school. Even though things are changing, teachers in resource classes also have a little more freedom with how much time they spend on a unit and how they teach their curriculum.
ReplyDeleteKristin
I agree that digital storytelling is a great way to differentiate content and process. I am visualizing many successes with my male gender-based classes. I have struggled all year in my attempts to get them engaged with books. The majority of them absolutely hate to read. I have had to change my delivery and content with these groups all year.
ReplyDeleteThe most challenging task will be conquering the seven elements of digital storytelling prior to the hands on activity. I will have to do many mini-lessons to teach point of view and how to incorporate emotional content. We currently have the software requirements loaded on all of our desktops. However, getting into the computer lab will be an issue. One thought, is swapping rooms with a teacher that has several computers in their classroom that are not being used.
As for ebooks, we don't have many, per say. We do have online reference resources and a few of the educational websites that we use have audible samplings of some elementary books, mostly fairy tales. With budget restraints and a media center that has an average collection age of 30 years do not foresee getting ebooks any time soon.
The most difficult this I have had to do with this digital storytelling project is exactly what you said...synthesize a large amount of information and organize it to create an informative yet moving story. A project like this one will not be forgotten any time soon! I think that using technology like this engages students, increases learning and retention, and enhance the transfer of knowledge. My 12 year old son just told me that for his Science project his paragraphs do not have to be 5-7 sentences long...that is what you have to do in Language Arts! Really?!?! Creating a digital story encompasses all areas of learning and I agree when Nigel said this might encourage 'boys' to read, but I think it would also entice them to get involved in their school work!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the digital story telling is one that will definately engage the learners; it has certainly challenged me as I wwork on this project. I believe that the media specialist would be doing the teachers a great favor by collecting the data for the "kit" so that the lesson is well prepared and organized for student use. My biggest challenge is narrowing down the topic and deciding which lesson the digital story would be best served. I like the idea of ebook, but like most libraries I donot think that is something that has been a priority yet.
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