So this week we were asked to think more about how we would integrate digital storytelling into our own classrooms using our given curriculum. I had to take a couple of days to think about how I could do this in my classroom. I teach in a K-2 ESE (exceptional student education) classroom so I don't really have a main curriculum that I use with all my students. I have to pull materials from several sources and focus mainly on my students IEP (individualized education plan) goals. But when I think about how it could be incorporated in my students I think about how I could work with my students and their parents and create digital stories about the students themselves. I would send home a survey with my students to fill out with the help of their parents that discuss information about themselves, their name, age, favorite things. I would create one on myself that I would use to introduce the project. This would be a very hands on project that both myself and my paraprofessionals would work with the students to manipulate the story to incorporate what the students would like. I would use this for my curriculum unit on Community/All about me which is the first unit I teach in my classroom. I am thankful enough to have access to 3 student computers and 2 iPads in my classroom. By having all these different forms of technology allow me to be able to work one on one with my students that need the most assistance. This also allows me to work with different forms of technology and introduce them to my students.
Personally I can see using digital storytelling to project different stories that I use in my reading curriculum. Using digital storytelling I would be able to introduce more pictures and sounds with the stories that will keep my students more engaged in them. I could also use it to make my own lessons on the letter of the week. My students are very visual so using digital storytelling will work very well with my students.
I think integrating an all about me digital storytelling lesson is a great idea. Students can learn more about their fellow classmates, which creates a great classroom environment. This also benefits you as a teacher because you can get to know your students as well. I like how you not only described ways that students can use digital storytelling in the classroom, you also described how you would use digital storytelling to make your own lessons during the week. Another thing that I liked was how you would model your own about me presentation to your students. Modeling is a great way to teach students what you are expecting from them.
ReplyDeleteThe digital stories would work perfectly with the All About Me theme. I think parents would love to have their students share these stories. You could present them on a parent night. I think back to when I taught Kindergarten and we would have a mothers day tea. The digital stories would be a great presentation to have during that time. Other ideas I read about are: places I have visited, my favorite day or my favorite person. I like the idea with the letters, you could have a student represent one of the letters. Maybe the letter of their first name, that way it is meaningful to the student.
ReplyDeleteTeaching in a non-specific content classroom would be a great opportunity to explore the possibilities of digital storytelling. You could definitely have students working across several subjects on this one!
ReplyDeleteIt is important that you model the digital storytelling assignment for all students, but perhaps more importantly for your ESE students. Gradual release...you do one for them...then maybe the class works together...then finally they could do one on their own.
I have a question that I would like to ask, and I am asking all of the students in our class:
How much time should content area teachers spend teaching students how to use programs like Prezi or other digital storytelling platforms? I mean, in a time when we are given more content to cover and fewer hours/days to deliver it...can we afford to spend time showing students (those who do not understand) how to use the digital platforms? Or better yet, can we afford to NOT teach them?
While researching digital storytelling with ESE students, I came across two topics: creating digital stories and reading digital stories. Creating digital stories had many benefits for these students including increased communication skills, reading and writing skills, motivation, and collaboration. Reading digital (and interactive stories) also had benefits. One interactive story program gave students several options: listen to the story, read independently, record yourself reading the story. There were also comprehension tasks, etc. As someone who hopes to become either a media specialist or ESE teacher, digital storytelling is definitely something I want to look into.
ReplyDeleteMegan,
ReplyDeleteI think that your All About Me project is a fantastic idea! This would be a great "get to know you" project to do at the beginning of the school year. I think this project would help to create a warm, welcoming classroom environment, as well as, help to ease any back to school jitters that they may have. Also, you are very lucky to have access to 3 student computers and 2 iPads, along with paraprofessionals to assist with the execution of this project. I work with K-2 students to get their literacy skills back on grade level with the rest of their class. I think that this About Me project would be a great motivator to get students to buckle down and focus on literacy skills in order to have the opportunity to work with presentation tools and put their biographies to film. Digital storytelling has the ability to span all subjects and grade levels. There are so many digital storytelling projects out there that could easily be adapted for all grade levels. I really appreciate you sharing your digital storytelling idea with us; I found it to be very inspiring and informative. I look forward to hearing how your project turns out once you implement it in your class :)
Respectfully,
Kim Hoffman