Application in the Classroom

Unfortunately, I can see numerous problems with implementing a digital storytelling project in my elementary school classroom IF I am having the students make individual digital stories. I am an ECE major, and therefore, will not teach children older than 3rd grade. I think it will be a little too difficult to have 1st and 2nd graders complete this assignment. They are still learning how to read and write and even tell stories/identify the elements of a story. I think expecting them to design their own digital story is a little over their heads. I think it will frustrate a lot of them and myself and will waste too much class time. I am only one teacher with approximately 20 young students.
However, I do like the idea of showing them a digital story, perhaps one I have made. I think it can be a great teaching tool since it provides the students with a visual, as well as giving them something to listen to. I also think I could encourage the students to write their own stories, and then I could compose them into a digital story to share with the class. Another idea is to have the whole class participate and give me ideas that they want in the digital story. But again, I would put the whole thing together.

Ode to the Teachers

Movie Storyboard

For this week's assignment, we had to submit a storyboard for an upcoming digital story we will be making in class. My movie is going to be entitled: Ode to the teachers! It is a silly poem, written by ME, addressing some of the issues that teachers may face throughout their school day. I thought it was quite applicable since all of us taking IP&T will probably go on to be teachers. I have numerous stanzas with a descriptive picture for each one. I have also collected music clips to add to my presentation.

Poetry is a topic frequently addressed in school, and I think my digital story will be a great teaching tool. First, it gives the students a presentation to listen to and see. It is so important to use several different teaching styles so every student in the classroom feels comfortable. Especially for younger children, they will not fully grasp concepts if they are simply taught from a book. Also, it will encourage my students to think outside the box, to use their imaginations and be creative! If their teacher came up with this silly poem... think of the possibilities for the students! Lastly, my digital story helps me relate with the students on a more personal level. I created this digital story and feel comfortable enough to share it with them. If I am asking them to write their own poems, the least I can do is show them an example and let them know I am not expecting them to do tasks I have not done myself.

As I just mentioned, the representation of the material (i.e. poems) is mulimodal. What does this mean? Certain teaching methods only allow students to read a textbook, study a diagram, listen to a CD, etc. My digital story will be so effective because it achieves several different purposes: students can VIEW the movie, LISTEN to poem and take an active part themselves. Perhaps they forget some of the concepts we discuss in class? As soon as they get home, they can visit the class website and play back the digital story as many times as they need. Repition is always a great teaching tool!

TPACK

This week in class, we discussed the concept of TPACK. As expected, I knew nothing of this concept before attending class. However, since that time, I have learned a great deal about it. TPACK stands for Technological Pedagogical And Content Knowledge. The title is rather intimidating, but TPACK is quite easy to understand. TPACK combines PK (Pedagogical Knowledge) with CK (Content Knowledge) and TK (Technological Knowledge). Briefly, PK is general knowledge/skills related to teaching; CK is knowledge of facts, concepts and skills in a specific area, such as history; TK is knowledge of various technologies. Combine these three elements and get: TPACK- knowledge of how to teach specific content using technology. Different representations of TPACK include: textual, visual, auditory, dynamic and multimodal. It is essential for teachers to learn about TPACK and how to apply it in their classrooms because 1)teachers must have knowledge of facts and concepts in order to pass them on to their students 2) they also must have effective teaching strategies or their classrooms will be pure chaos 3) the last needed element is technology- a great tool to reach out to the needs of individual children in the classroom/provide variation from standard teaching methods!

Skype

Hello Web 2.0

Before this class assignment, I had not even heard of Web 2.0. After learning that Web 2.0 allows users to actively participate, I was still not excited to begin our Internet Communication Project. I do not have a facebook or blog (well, excluding this technology one), and I was not confident in my abilities to make my own website. However, I DID IT! My website is up and running, thanks to the help of several people and countless instructional videos. I'm so excited to walk away from this project, confident in my abilities to make a classroom website in the future. In particular, I really found meaning in making the calendar. This great tool allows parents and students to keep us with assignments and classroom events. Not only can they follow it on a weekly basis, they can look ahead for several months to see all the things we will be doing. I think it will be a wonderful organization tool for my classroom.

The Beginning

Unfortunately, my technology experience is lacking and greatly needs improvement. I have to admit, a lot of the blame falls on my shoulders for this sad predicament. I do not have a Facebook or Blog, despite the numerous attempts from my friends to get them. My brother even created a Facebook account for me... and I deleted it the next day. I do not hate technology, but I am not a huge fan either. Our techno-generation, with their excessive cell phone use and texting, turned me off to technology. Therefore, I was not excited at all to take this class. BUT I have definitely realized I have to be able to incorporate technology in my future classroom to benefit my students, and I am really excited to take this class :) It seems like it is going to be quite lovely indeed!