Digital Storytelling Project

I would love to use digital storytelling with my 4^th and 5^th grade students to promote books in the Media Center. I would work on this project in conjunction with their Reading and Language Arts teachers, who would give them a grade for the project.

The project would have the students using digital storytelling to promote a book they have read. After deciding on a book they would want to share with their classmates, they would have to create a script that included a little about the main characters, the basic plot of the book (without giving the whole story away), the genre the book falls under and the reasons they would recommend the book to their friends. To encourage the use of additional media, the students would use iMovie to turn their script into a video presentation. They would also be required to use drawings or clip art in the project to create a scene from the book that would help to promote their book. After the projects are finished and graded, they would be played in the Media Center on an ongoing basis to promote the books the students chose.

Before beginning the project, I would have my students look at some examples of Book Talks online – both print & mixed media types. We would also review sites on good writing practices and the proper way to credit your resources. Finally, we would view tutorials on creating iMovies.

I would also create a book talk video of my own to encourage the students in expressing their opinions and showing them how to provide support for their choice.

Digital Storytelling in the Media Center

This week we had to create a presentation about how we might use Digital Storytelling to benefit our students. I have had an idea for a while to have my students create Book Talks that I can show on the television that is mounted in the Media Center.  I think this is a good project because it not only encourages my students to read; it requires them to practice their writing and public speaking skills.

I decided to try out Prezi since I am a long time PowerPoint user. I found it very user friendly. I watched the three short videos provided on the Prezi site and they gave me all the basic tools I needed to create my first presentation. I added the text to represent my ideas, inserted some graphics and even framed some of my text and pictures. I decided to include a video that would represent the type of project my students might turn in and it was as easy as cutting and pasting. Finally, I chose the path the presentation would take and what information my viewer would see and in what order. 

I look forward to teaching my fellow faculty members and my students this user-friendly presentation software.

Digital Storytelling in the Media Center

Using Digital Storytelling in the Media Center on Prezi

Online Profiles - A New View

Before I became a Media Specialist, my online profile was minimal. I didn’t want to “tweet” and I did not want to be anyone’s “friend” on Facebook. Anytime a friend would tell me about a new website where I could check to see what information was out on the web about me, I was happy when only the most basic information appeared.

I still don’t want my personal information available to just anyone but I am seeing the benefits of creating an online presence.  After joining Twitter, I found I didn’t have to read every comment made and that I could “follow” the postings of other Librarians and technology savvy people.  In completing the “About Me” assignment, I also found that I can choose what I want to post and it can be a great tool to encourage my students to read by including comments on the books I have read, upcoming library events, and reading strategies for parents.

Now that I have added to my online profile for this class, I have come up with many ideas for my Media Center website including links to my favorite award winning books, a quote of the day from the students’ favorite authors and comprehension questions for the Battle of the Books competition we have within our district.

Even though this assignment has given me a different view about having an online profile, I want that profile to reflect my professional outlook and views, not my personal information. As I work on building my online profile, I am going to continue to stay away from Facebook.

Excel-ling at Spreadsheets

I am a lucky student this week. Working with an Excel spreadsheet is second nature to me. I have been using Excel for over ten years and by now it comes naturally to me. It is a great tool to use for many reasons. Besides the obvious tracking of data, I really like the fact that you can take the data you are using and create different charts and graphs that make it easier for others to interpret the data you are tracking.  Although “it is important to pick the chart type that provides the best visualization for your data.” (Gunter, 149) Having the added benefit of using a 3D style chart can add a professional look to your presentations.

This week’s assignment in Excel, showed a perfect way to track a student’s grade, permission slips and average grades. Using a program that can do the work of averaging student grades for you makes a teacher’s job a little easier. It is a useful program for creating classroom forms such as reading logs or classroom jobs.  The things that can be created in Excel is only limited by what we can dream up.

Stacy Anderson

References

Shelly, G.B., Gunter, G.A., Gunter, R. (2010). Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom. Boston, MA. Course Technology, Cengage Learning.
Shelly, G.B., Gunter, G.A., Gunter, R. (2010). Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom. Boston, MA. Course Technology, Cengage Learning. G.B., Gunter, G.A., Gunter, R. (2010). Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom. Boston, MA. Course Technology, Cengage Learning.

Shelly, G.B., Gunter, G.A., Gunter, R. (2010). Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom. Boston, MA. Course Technology, Cengage Learning.

To Be or Not To Be? - Should Schools Allow Teachers to Use Web Tools Without Restriction?

Is it more unethical to allow threats to students/schools or to deny students/teachers access to instructionally relevant Web-based tools and content?

Why does it have to be one or the other? As a teacher, I have been asked a thousand times –“When are we ever going to use algebra (or poetry or science) in real life?” Students have a hard time relating what they are learning to actual use later in life. So, in my opinion, one of the most important things we can do as educators is show them the correlation between their lessons and their careers in the work world. Since technology is used everyday by almost everyone in every industry, community and household, shouldn’t it follow that we should teach our students how to use the technology to learn, as well as protect themselves from those who use it for personal gain?

First they need to learn about protecting themselves from internet predators. Web sites like Student Internet Safety (click here) can be used by teachers to show students what to watch for and how to protect their personal information. Another lesson should include the right way to search to provide the best results for your topic.  A site like Noodle Tools provides great tips to share with your students. (click here) Additionally, the students need to learn to be cautious about what types of incoming information they should accept and what they should decline.  Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom (Gunter) suggests using reliable antivirus software, scanning all attachments before opening and never starting your computer with removable media in the drives.

The list of possible resources could go on for pages but the overall message is to teach our students the right way to use the web based tools and content and then schools would not have to choose what to allow in the classroom. By following this plan our students would connected to many valuable lessons and real life scenarios without exposing themselves to danger.

Stacy Anderson

Resources

Noodle Tools. (2010). Choose the Best Search for Your Information Need. Retrieved on September 20, 2010 from http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/5locate/adviceengine.html

Shelly, G.B., Gunter, G.A., Gunter, R. (2010). Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom. Boston, MA. Course Technology, Cengage Learning.

Unknown Author. (2010). Student Internet Safety. Retrieved on September 22, 2010 from www.studentinternetsafety.com

Teaching Students About Networking & Connectivity

In the YouTube video, “The Networked Student”, the creator shows us how using all different types of technology can help students learn. I think these resources can help students learn but they need to be taught about the resources available to them and how use them from an educational point of view.

Many students think Twitter and Facebook are all about socializing with their friends and teachers need to show them how these sites can help them learn. As a new Twitter user myself, I thought it was all about people, who had nothing better to do, then post about what they had for breakfast or where they were shopping that day. But then, I got a job as an elementary school media specialist and the other media specialists showed me how useful it can be. I follow a group of media specialists and they post wonderful things such as great books reviews, lessons on starting discussion groups about different books, online resources that have been particularly helpful and many, many websites that offer all different kinds of information that I can pass on to my students. With technology so much of the future, it is important that our students can find the resources they need and that they learn how to tell which resources are valid and which are just for fun.

Another reason it is import for students to learn about all the online resources is how fast things change in today’s world. How often do you see a resource book and find the information in it is already out of date – even when it is only a few months old. Learning to use online resources and using them to connect yourself with others is the best way to stay on top of the most up to date information available.

Thanks.

Stacy A

Drexler, W. (n.d.). The Networked Student. YouTube.                                   

Gunter, Glenda. (2010) Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom. (6^th Ed.) Boston MA.  Course Technology.