Teaching yourself.

Rabecca asked an interesting question. How do you incorporate a technology into the classroom when you don't know how to use it? My knowledge of how schools and training works. Basically you teach yourself. They do offer classes but they are not that great. The best way to implement new tools in the classroom is figure it out by yourself and test it. If it dosen't work you are back to the drawing board. Possibly find someone who does know it and have them teach you.

Another example of podcasts from an elementary school http://bobsprankle.com/blog/

Podcast articles

I came across an interesting article http://www.thejournal.com/articles/18040_4 from The Journal comments on how education is using iPods to create podcasts . I know I went to a technology show a month ago and the Apple representative was showing iPods and telling all the ways they could be used in the classroom. It is amazing the technology available in all facets of life.

I have also found the Podcasting News http://www.podcastingnews.com/ commenting on new innovations in the podcasting world. Quick little reads that delve into the podcasters world. On this site I learned a new term, vlogger (video blogger).

Podcasting with a Mac

The link is a superb resource for creating a podcast with a Mac. It shows a simple step by step process to create a podcast. It uses garageband which normally comes on an apple and then a few other free downloads. I can see this as being used in the school setting where apples are the norm. Click the link below.

Podcasting

I am back discussing Podcasting. In my recent foray into the domain of podcasting I discovered it a relatively new technology. It was invented in 2000 and is like radio on demand. A person can listen to podcasts using RSS feeds either on their computer or downloading to a personal listening device (ex. ipod, MP3 player). The two most popular audio files available online include talk shows and music. However, there are other options.

The following link gives great resources and background information. http://www.podcasting-tools.com/

To listen to a few podcasts check out Yahoo and see what is available. http://podcasts.yahoo.com/

Next I will discuss how to create them. Until then.

Practice Runs & small steps

As we become collaboration partners with teachers, creating glitch free technology lessons is a very real problem. Starting small and expanding is the right choice. Taking one teacher aside and showing them a project you would like to start is the first step. Putting together the plan is the second. Then attempting to make it work is the third. A teacher that is willing to collaborate with you is a great starting point.

If digital storytelling to big of a project maybe starting with just audio might work. Then expand to video after the LMS or teacher has figured out how to work all the technology. I think finding a teacher that is willing to take part in a large endeavor is the first part. If you can find that the rest will come. Aslo, taking small steps is a good idea. Coming into a school setting all ready to change the world is great but for the teachers that have been there for many years it can be a bit daunting. Once you show how it can work with a teacher than other teachers will become excited and want their kids to try.

Using digital storytelling in the classroom

I have been thinking about having students create digital stories. The optimum age to do this would have to be high school. Just the technology alone is daunting to most teachers. At least in the high school setting once you taught how to use the equipment the students could then use it independently (hopefully).

In the elementary setting if an LMS or technology person were to assist than I could see it as possible. Maybe even creating one story together as a class would be do-able. What I have witnessed of teachers and technology is not overly promising. Teachers find it very frustrating to use if you are not famaliar with it and technology needs a great amount of patience. When you have a classroom of 22 kids all asking how to get on and becoming bored because there is a glitch there can and will be problems. Definitely 2 or more people are needed to do this in the elementary setting.

Really neat message

I was perusing around for more digital storytelling components when I came across this site http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/learnshops/digital/examples.php . I was touched by the creativity of the authors. I particularly liked the "What should I do with my life?" It reminded me of a stand alone powerpoint. The author dosen't physically have to be there the audience just has to listen and watch. It tends to be more poignant and can convey feelings better than the written word. Take a look and imagine the possibilities.....because everyone has a voice and a story.

Resources for a digital storyteller

Another interesting find in digital story telling is http://www.secondstory.com/ A museum project that encompasses digital stories in a artistic way.

http://www.inms.umn.edu/elements/ contains a glossary of terms that explain some of the concepts associated with digital story telling.

Each of these sites along with the links on the side of my blog show different arenas that showcase this forum. It can be a great resource to capture stories that normally would never be saved. A person who was not totally enthralled with the writing process could be drawn to this type of expression.

Progress in digital story telling

I am not progressing with students on this project like I wanted to. The second graders I had are now coming to the library with their teacher and she is directing the lesson. I could still do a small project but will discuss with the teacher to see if we can try something. Time seems to be the biggest obstacle. I have meetings to go to and am out of the library regularly. This makes the job tougher especially when it is your first year.

Images

Cheryl brought up a good point. Images are very important in the digital story process. I have found links to different sites that have images that can be downloaded and used for free. Another great resource is having the students bring pictures from home or take them with a digital camera. There are so many possibilities. or even using a movie camera would be an interesting way to create images. Kids can be so creative we need to give them more opportunities to use those talents. This would be a great starting place.

Tina

Few more links

I have found different interesting links I have included in the side bar which took a while but was worth it. I also found on the BBC site a lot of useful information. This whole initative started in California at the Centre for Digital Storytelling. I would imagine since movie cameras came into existence this has been an art form. In a way it seems like an old idea but has been transformed because the internet is available to showcase the work. If you can find it you can watch it. I can see the appeal for students. The more ways to create that are available the more students you would reach.

Tina

New links

I have been surfing the web looking for more interesting links that showcase digital storytelling especially in the school setting. I found a great site. I have provided the link on the side bar. But will also include it here. digitalstories.org This particular site showcases students using digital storytelling to demonstrate history topics. I can see the wonderful possibilities for students with different learning styles embracing this type of outlet for school projects. By allowing students different avenues for expression it would make a classroom more stimulating. If the LMS would help teachers embrace these new technologies a wealth of learning could occur.

Modifications

After the students completed reading into the computer today. I had them do a journal entry and write about how they like the activity with the Sound Studio. Most of them really enjoyed it and said so. Their teacher even said they were trying it on the computers in their classroom. It seems like it would be a great fluency idea because they can hear themselves reading. I did notice for it to be totally free of background noise they have to be alone which can be difficult.

I am not sure if the E*Lit will fit in to the schedule. After break I will be joined by another teacher and the group of students will go up to 20 instead of 15. She will be driving the activities so we will see. Stay tuned....

2nd step??

I am trying to decide if the second graders could make a digital story. I think I would need a video camera which I don't have or at the least a digital camera. The one we have is very old. I had a teacher use it and she couldn't get the pictures off it. I will have to work on this. A scanner might work. Then they could scan in pictures or draw pictures and scan them in. we have break next week but if they still come to me after break than maybe I can try something with them.

Tina

More cool links

http://techszewski.blogs.com/ Is an interesting blog site about a teacher working on his doctorate. His thesis focuses on digital storytelling. It is very interesting and current.

One of the links I found through the above site is http://www.stories1st.org/ This site has actual stories and some are just audio. Digital storytelling is just story telling using something digital as the medium. A very interesting technique for those who are not into the written word. I can see it being used with boys to help with writing. A way to communicate that is still considered educational.

Tina

1st step

I met with the 2nd Graders today. I showed them how to use Sound Studio to record their voices. I gave each a laptop then they had to go to a quiet spot in the library and read a book to the laptop. Once done they could play it back to themselves. Using headphones proved easier to hear because the recordings tended to be very low. It took a good 30 minutes to stop hearing my name being called saying it dosen't work. I had to go around to each of them and show them the controls. It is a simple process and something they enjoyed doing. It is the 1st step in the process of creating a digital story.

I liked Rabecca's idea about using Digital Storytelling to create a presentation that goes along with E*LIT. I am trying to decide if I could actually do it. I need to check the apple computers to see if it is possible. I will do that tomorrow. I have a group of second graders I can see if they can use Sound Studio. I know it records voices. I will try them reading into it and then playing it back to themselves. I checked out the link I posted previously it is very informative. I need to look into how to use iMovie. I will leave that for the next post.

More ideas

I have Apple computers available in the elementary library I work in. I noticed I have iMovie available along with Sound Studio. I have the necessary equipment to create a digital story with students. I just need more ideas on what would be a good project to conduct with the students.

Great site http://www.coe.uh.edu/digital-storytelling/ with alot of interesting background about digital storytelling. Read on.

Tina

Digital Story Writing

Okay, I figured out how to post a new idea. I was just commenting last time. Back to the topic. I found an interesting article that describes how a teacher used the iMovie technology to help her students create a story about a place they know. The link is http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/jan02/banaszewski.htm . I would be very intrigued to use this technology in an elementary library. I can see many possibilities. Making a mini movie with the kids creating the script would be an interesting lesson and an interesting experience.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. My assignment for 611 is Digital Story Writing. It sounds interesting.