When I saw the term digital storytelling listed on the syllabus I thought of websites that I use on the SMART Board like Tumblebooks and One More Story. These sites provide a variety of picture books that are read aloud with the text highlighted on the screen. They provide access to books that might not be available in a classroom library and also serve to help English Language Learners and children who have reading difficulties. The resources and suggestions provided in the articles to help students create their own digital stories were all very informative and gave me different ways to think about upcoming writing units throughout the school year.
Although I’d imagine that my students would be very motivated to write their stories using a digital format, time is always a challenge. City and state assessments hold teachers accountable for student learning so the time for creative and meaningful activities such as digital storytelling take a backseat to test prep. Hopefully, once the tests are completed in May, I will have some time to refer to the Technology Integration Matrix for some professional development around digital storytelling.
On the other hand, the article titled “High Tech Reflection Strategies” provided ways for students to use digital tools to keep track of their work. I could see using a flipcam with students to interview one another and discuss what they were most proud of or what they found challenging in a particular unit of study. For students who are better at expressing their thoughts in spoken, rather than written form, this would be a good tool.
There are so many tools available for teachers to use with students to help them express themselves in a creative format and become innovative thinkers. I’m wondering if the new Common Core Standards and possible changes to No Child Left Behind will enable teachers to use technology in their classrooms on a more frequent basis and/or utilize assessments in digital format.
--Robyn
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