Hey guys hope you having a good week and hope you all have a Happy Easter!
Here are the questions for this weeks readings.
In the first reading:
Q1. Out of the top ten lessons, which do you find to be the most important and why? How could this be used in your classroom?
Q2. What do you see as the benefits of digital storytelling?
In the second reading:
Q3. How do you feel about the top ten that are given on this website? Do you know of any other websites or programs that are NOT on the list that you would add?
Q4. Look through the programs and websites that are on the list. What ones have you used before? Try some out you have not used before and give your feedback on them.
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Q1: Although I have not had much experience with digital storytelling,I felt that the most important learned from digital storytelling was number 8. I feel it is extremely important for parents to be involved with their students schooling, and this is a great way for parents to not only get to work with the teacher and get to know the teacher, but to be become an active participant in their child's learning. I also believe having parents help when creating a digital story is so important because using new technology for the first time can be difficult, and some students are going to need more help then others. With the help of parents each child can get more one-on-one time in order to better understand how to use digital storytelling. I feel it is important to give parents notice when you first begin your school year that you are looking for volunteers so they can plan their work schedule accordingly. I also believe that in order to prepare your helping parents you must meet with them before they actually come in to help. As a teacher you can set up a "training session" where parents can actually create their own digital story. I think it would be really awesome for parents to create their own stories to share to the classroom before they help because if a child's parent is working on the same project as them, they may become even more excited to create their own digital story
ReplyDeleteQ1 - Out of the top ten lessons i found number 9 to be the most important. I thought it was important because it would allow the teachers to work closely and have the children could continue on one content area or main idea and connect it to all different subjects and it may help them connect it to real life and remember it better if something is related to all subject areas or at least taught in all of their classes. A way a teacher could do this in their classroom would be to pick a topic like assigning different countries for the students to learn about and in each subject like social studies and language arts they could use different resources to find information on their country and create a video on its history, and in language arts write about it and connect it into other subject areas.
ReplyDeleteQ.8 I think the most important lesson learned was Number 5, “Don’t compromise the writing-get it right before ever starting the media.” Often when students are assigned a project like this they want to jump right into it and get started. However, often students fail to see that although this is not a written project, there is still a great deal of planning and organizing that has to be done. When our group made our iMovie projects in class, we made a script at first and decided what we would be doing during each scene. This helped us to be prepared when it actually came time to film. When you think about it, a movie always starts with a script, the actors read it and practice it, and after it is sufficiently rehearsed, they begin to film it. Same with a digital storytelling project, you need a plan of action before you can go ahead with the project. This helps you stay on track and makes it easier for you to make the best project you can. A way for a teacher to use this in the classroom is to have students prepare a rough copy, and practice it. I like the idea of peer reviews, so maybe students can exchange work with another student and give feedback.
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn-I agree, parent involvement is very important. Teachers should always keep parents involved and informed. Also, I really like the idea of getting parents to use digital storytelling too. Its a fun and educational way for kids and parents to bond and learn.
ReplyDeleteGreat job posting quickly! You all get a brownie point!
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn-I like how you chose number 9. I also believe it is important for parents to be involved. I like your idea about getting parents to come in for a training session-type situation. We, as teachers, do not know where a family might be coming from-whether the parents have ever even used a computer before. It is a great idea to inform them of how to use the tools we will be having their children use.
What are some other ways we could get parents involved in technology? What else could we do if they have never touched a computer before and wouldn't have any clue how to help their children?
Q. 1 I think the most important lesson listed was: "Number 2 Showing samples is extremely valuable in setting the stage to understand the 7 elements of storytelling". Having the ability to view samples lets the students know exactly what they are expected to do. They can look them over as a group and discuss the strenghts and weaknesses of other pieces of work to help them create the strongest projects possible. I even like seeing sample projects now, with our parent/caregiver letters for Katina there were so many different spacing and layout critera that I wanted to see a sample so I could make sure I was doing it correctly. Also when I am having difficulty coming up with ideas or inspiration for projects I like to look at samples and get ideas.
ReplyDeleteQ1. I really like Number 10 and 8 from the the first article. Digital story telling is such a great way to integrate curriculum, standards, and technology. I like Number 10 "Do another project soon after the first one to solidify the skills" because I think students truly enjoy using technology and they are learning and integrating skills from other content areas so it is a win win situation. I also like Number 8 "Utilize as many parent volunteers as possible." I agree with Kaitlyn that parent involvement in their students work is very important, and using technology to do so is beneficial to parents and students.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be a good idea to invite parents into our classrooms so students can show them the new technology they are learning. This would be a great way to get parents involved, have students practice their skills using technology such as Digital Story Telling, and parents benefit by learning new skills as well.
Q 4. Out of the list I have used Skype before. I used it to stay in contact with one of my friends when he was Afghanistan last year. I also used it to talk to my dad when I was at Brockport last semester. It is a great way to get that "personal" contact without actually physically being there. When I would have a rough day last semester I would Skype my dad and being able to see him and talk to him always made my day better.
ReplyDeleteI have also used blogs before. When I was in Kenya last april I blogged my time so people could read about it and be a part of my trip even though they were not there.
Lastly, of course I have used wikis for this class but also for my Psy class a year ago and now we are doing voice thread.
Allison-I love your post! I love that you were able to use Skype while away from your family. I also have noticed that a lot of people use blogs when they go on vacation to let family/friends know what they are up to. My sister did the same thing when she went to Ireland for a month last summer and it was very convienent to have something to look at and see what she had been up to.
ReplyDeleteKari-I like how you conncted that example with something we are doing in class, and how you brought up what we are doing in Katina's class. GREAT JOB!!!
Q1. Out of the top ten lessons I really liked number 8. Involving parents whereever we can is great for everyone involved. It gives teachers the extra hands that they can always use and the students extra support and help in the classroom. For parents this is a great way for them to be involved, once they learn how to use digital storytelling. They can help out in the classroom and then use what they have learned at home with their children. I will definetly try digital storytelling in my classroom because it is fun and interesting for students. I will also ask for parents to come in and help with the process.
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn--I liked your post and I think that having training sessions for parents would be great!
Great comments everyone! I've noticed many of you like the idea of parents helping with digital storytelling and helping in the classroom in general. Assigning homework to have the children demonstrate to their parents how to use Skype would not only reinforce the students skills, like Jessica said, but it also may make the parents feel comfortable coming in to help out when the students are working on a project. What other ways do you think technology could help the parent/child/teacher connection?
ReplyDeleteQ 1. When i looked at the list of lessons I also felt that number 2 was important just like Kari! I feel that if you just give children or anyone an assignment without showing some sort of an example they might feel overwealmed and not know what to do. Examples are great to get ideas and show how to do something, but i also feel like examples should be used carefully. Sometimes if examples are given students might just copy them which would defeat the purpose of them creating their own projects.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to question 1 I would have to say that lesson 2 would be the most important. Giving solid examples really helps students understand what the teacher wants and gives them ideas/hints as to what they should use in their own work. Although I would have to say that #2 is most important, #10 is a great idea as well. The students are going to gain and remember the skills if they are used over and over. As a student I remembered many instances where my teachers would teach a specific writing style or math problem and they would only cover it one day. So when the time came to take a test or quiz on the topic I always struggled because the information wasn't reinforced in my brain. Having the students use the skills over and over will make the learning process more beneficial to them and will make teaching much easier on the teacher because they won't need to re-teach the lesson.
ReplyDeleteQ4: For this question I browsed through a few of the sites and one that caught my eye was the kerpoof studio website. I thought that the website was great because it was very "kid friendly" and that your students most likely wouldn't need an adult to help them navigate through it. As you enter the site it gives you so many options as to what you would like to do. I chose to work on a movie and it gives you so many options for what the movie will be about and what the setting will look like. It may seem a bit corny but I even enjoyed using the site! I would highly recommend this site to any teacher/parent because it helps the students be creative in a fun and new way that I know they will enjoy!
ReplyDeleteGood posts so far everyone! There's quite a few that still haven't answered! Make sure you look over at least a few of the examples. Erin, I really liked how you took a personal experience and related it to your example. I too have ran into the same problem of forgetting material because it is taught once and then never reinforced or brought up again before an exam.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up guys! Happy Easter =]
Q1: I felt that out of the top tn lessons, i liked number 7 the best. "Keeping a schedule chart up helps keeps students on track". the students were able to check pff each step of the process that they have completed. This allows the students to be independent with how they choose to do their project and the amount of time spent on each part of the project. I feel that this lesson will able students to push themselves, when they see that most of the class is ahead of them in the particular phases of the project, it will show them that they need to work a little harder and faster to complete this project. In the class that I am observing they have the back wall filled with everyones names and then columns that have 10%, 20%, 30% .. and so on until the end which is 100%. This wall is for the students AR books. when they read thier independent books they must have it completed within two weeks or so. When the students have completed 10% of the book they go to the back of the class and move thier name under the 10% spot. Each student does this every % of the way until they finish the book. I feel that this is just a great lesson to bring into the classroom and I am excited to look further into this for my future classroom.
ReplyDeleteQ1: After reading the top ten I believe that number 8 to be the most important because i believe that it is very important for parents to be involved with thier students schooling and being able to actually understand what thier children are doing. I also believe that it would help the parents become more updated with the new technology that is in the world today. If they understand the program then they would be able to help thier children with thier projects if they needed it. I would use this in the classroom by settng up a time for parents to come in and work with digital story telling. I would let them explore it and create thier own digital story.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you jen! I felt that having parents involved was very important for students. I know I loved having my parents involved in my classroom and I can now see how keeping parents informed can elp a sudent succeed as well.I also agree with you too Lauren. Keeping a schedule can keep kids on track throughout the day and even keep you as a teacher in schedule. These are really great posts!
ReplyDelete1) I liked lesson 2, showing examples to the class before and during the project. I personally also like to have models for what I am doing, just as a reference. As the article says, having a reference model is good for pointing out the good and the bad. That way students can see what makes a successful video and what doesn't. I also agree with the article that success is the key, so giving a sample is only helping students! This also reminded me of the Berger text, he also suggests showing models to children before the project to give ideas to them as well discuss how to be successful.
ReplyDeleteQ1. One of the lessons that i found to be the most important was number 7. I think that the children keeping track of their progress is important. By having the children put a check mark whenever they have completed an assingment they will know what they missed and have to make up and will also feel more accomplished because they will visually be able to see what they have accomplished.
ReplyDeleteAmanda- i liked lesson 2 too! I think that showing the kids a model on what they should be doing will keep them on test and give them a basis for their own voicethread. Also i liked the reference to Berger, good job relating this to other classes :)
Q.1- After reading through the top ten lessons, I would have to say that I think lesson 5 is the most important. Using digital story telling, especially voice thread, would make most people think that they don't need to write out what they are thinking. I'm pretty sure anyone that just uses voice thread isn't going to write out what they are going to say. Using digital storytelling in the class still has to be about the writing, even if the end product isn't going to be in writing. Students can't get away from practicing their writing skills because writing is such a crucial component to not only succeeding in school, but also in life. If we as teachers use digital story telling in our classrooms but allow students to not focus on the writing aspect of it, then I feel that we are failing them as teachers.
ReplyDeleteI also liked what Jen said. It is always important for parents to be involved in their child's schoolwork, but with a project like this parents need to be up to date with technology. If parents aren't up to date with this technology, they can't help their children with any questions they might have. I liked how Jen would allow parents to come into the classroom and just explore with their children, which would help everyone understand it more.
ReplyDeleteAmanda- I totally agree with you on the good reference model. I like to see one for myself as well before I start a project so I have something to go off of. And great text to text reference!
ReplyDeleteTommy- Great post! I liked how you said that digital storytelling and writing are linked. I know that throughout school I always hated writing but I think this would be a fun way to incorporate it into the classroom.
Jen- I totally agree with you on involving the parents! Great post!