I guess this book is fun for me to read because as a Southern woman, storytelling is in my blood. How many conversations in my day begin with, "Let me tell you this," or "I was telling so-and-so the other day," or simply, "You aren't going to believe this. . . " I LOVE stories; I love computers. I think most students are like me and enjoy stories and computers so let's get to putting the two together!
After reading chapters 1 & 2 in Digital Storytelling, what are your hopes and fears about student media production in your classroom?
I'm fascinated with the idea of digital storytelling in my classroom. I'm super excited to find out ways that I can incorporate it into Reading and Math. Since Nikki is in college studying sequential art and animation, that part in the chapter caught my attention. I would love to know how to teach my students how to create a digital story using animation that would reflect specific math skills, vocabulary words, or reading skills that we are learning in our classroom.
ReplyDeleteI am hopeful that students can produce digital stories in the classroom. However, I do think it is important that they understand and know what a good story is before using technology to create one. The basics of storytelling are very important and we should model this before we ask students to write and publish their stories. It is our responsibility to make students aware of story elements and how to use them. It would be great to video oral stories of my second graders or have them make short movies acting out the stories they wrote.
DeleteAlison, we love to draw and Beth has a Wacom tablet that allows her to digitally draw on the computer. She can save her work to her “jump drive” and it’s always there when she wants it. Art is just another form of storytelling and I am sure our students would love to do something like that. The sky is the limit!
Digital storytelling would be a good tool to use with second grade students. DST would allow children to tell their own stories in their own way. Students would need to be taught how to be good storytellers first, before incorporating this into technology. I love to tell stories and try to have a story to go along with most of my lessons. This holds the students' attention while teaching and makes the lesson more interesting. Stories help us remember and organize information. Children need to use their imagination and creativity. Digital story telling would allow students to think outside the box while focusing on goals that have real value. I am hoping that students will be able to create digital stories in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jolene that the art of storytelling would need to be taught first before incorporating it into the digital format. My main fear about media production is available time to incorporate this activity into my daily schedule. I also have concerns about this group of students creating a media production independently. My hope is that I can lead my class in collaboratively discussing and creating a media production.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the other ladies. I do feel it is important for the students to understand what a good storytelling is.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of students that love to tell stories. This would be a great way for them to share their ideas and be creative. I think children need to show others how creative they can be.
I would love to try digital storytelling in my classroom.
In the first chapter when I started reading it brought back so many memories of being in high school with those huge computers and you had to remember the code to get on them to do anything. Nothing like today. Today we just sign in and the world is at our finger tips. Our students can have fun learning to record their stories or re telling stories on the computer for many more to see. These students are so creative and very smart where technology is concerned. I cant wait to have them practice their Digital Storytelling :)
ReplyDeleteI agree that the process of storytelling must be taught first before the students would be able to successfully create a meaningful digital story. In chapter 1 I found Revelation #16 the most interesting. Revelation #16: DST helps students develop planning skills that are transferrable to many endeavors. Creating a DS is a "media production process". The students have to be engaged in so many different ways for the DS to be successful. The chapters also discuss the concept that the learner is involved in multiple literacies (art, speaking, writing, digital production, music....) I can see how DST would motivate children of all interest. I plan to use DST in the gifted class.
ReplyDeleteMandi, I'm excited you will be using this with GT classes, too.
DeleteMy children are like Dr. Hendon, they love stories and they love computers. Now I get to teach them how to put these two together. I honestly am excited and a little fearful at the same time. They already love to work in their journals so I know DST will be a great tool for them and me to use!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mandi that the process of storytelling must be taught before the students are able to successfully create good digital stories. My students love telling and listening to stories. Children are so creative! I know that my students would absolutely love creating digital stories, and it is exciting to me that this is a possibility for my students. Even though I want my students to be able to create digital stories, I am worried that I won't be able to offer them all of the help necessary to do this. Also, I am worried about the amount of time that it will take for my students to complete a good digital story. This concerns me because I already feel so overwhelmed trying to teach all of the necessary skills for third grade. I do realize that creating a digital story will allow my students to learn and retain numerous third grade skills. Also, my students amaze me everyday with how competent they are using the laptops. Even though I do have some concerns about my students creating digital stories, I am eager to learn more about how to create good digital stories. I do want to offer my students every opportunity to be successful in our digital world.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ginger I think being overwhelmed might be an understatement. Our third graders do amaze us all the time. So, I'm sure they will be helping us as much as we are them.
DeleteI agree with Jean and Dr. Hendon, my students love to tell stories also. We do a daily journal each day and one person tells a story for the day and everyone writes about it. They love telling stories and telling about someone else's story also. LOL They also love the computer and I can't wait to put these two together like Jean said and let them take off with digital story telling in the near future.
ReplyDeleteOk I agree with everyone! My children can tell the tallest tales and they love to. However, I too am afraid that I will not be able to give them all the help they will need to create a great digital story. With all the other tech programs that we need to do, time is what we are short on. But, we are gonna give it a try. First, we are gonna practice telling stories to each other, then the class, and finally creating a digital story. I know that my students can do it. In today's world children need to be comfortable with technology.
ReplyDeleteGail, I like the idea of having your children practice telling stories to each other first! But you're right about time being what we are SHORT on. Finding time to get this in may be a challenge!
DeleteLike several others have said my students LOVE to tell stories. They also enjoy writing in their journals then sharing it with the class. They like anything pertaining to technology so I think they will really enjoy creating digital stories.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone! Children LOVE to tell stories and hear stories. In Kindergarten we will need to practice how to tell a story and discuss the parts of a story before we create a digital story. My students love the computers and technology so I know they will love creating digital stories.
ReplyDeleteMy class could not get through the day without telling stories. They love stories. My class also enjoys journal time and sharing their journals. I agree it is important to discuss the parts to a story. We have already began discussing that a story has a beginning, middle, and end. I know DST will be interesting, but like Jean, I am a little fearful.
ReplyDeleteMy hopes with Digital Storytelling are that all my students will never forget that their teacher taught them how to make a Digital Story and that it was a wonderful learning experience. My students also enjoy telling stories and I enjoy listening to their stories, so I know that we are going to enjoy this learning process as we grow. My only fear that I have with Digital Storytelling is that I will be able to make this a fun and learning experience for my students because sometime I get nervous about using different techniques with technology and my students don’t show any fear when it comes to technology. I am trying to learn to be more like them.
ReplyDeleteI agree children love stories! They love to read them, hear them, and tell them! My children love having their "own" computer so I think digital storytelling will be lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteI have always loved writing and love to have children write their own stories. Now, putting stories and technology together is both a bit exciting and a bit stressful. Like Donna Nolan, I am trying to be more like the children who 'show no fear' when it comes to technology. Trying to think how to actually incorporate it into my little ones work....???? Lots of teacher guidance! ? Reading the Digital Story examples did help though. "Super Bug" helped me begin to imagine how my class could possibly do something with Digital Storytelling when I do my short 'Germs' unit. I'm thinking Movie Maker or Photo Story and doing a project as a CLASS first. A few 'staged' photos, some student artwork, a simple story line??? We'll see! I think the children would love it!
ReplyDeleteAnd um....yeah, I don't know why my name is that way! LOL Not sure who #39 is!?? Ha!
DeleteI seem to be an outcast. I don't recall having a love for writing and reading something I wrote to the class would have been a bad day for me at school. Technology was the typewriter. Having said that, I would have loved being a kid in today's world. DST can open the world for the verbal and nonverbal children. Technology puts every advantage at their fingertips. I have some very creative and artistic students this year, so I know they will love writing digital stories.
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