7 Elements of Digital Storytelling

I think it would be too much to put all seven elements of digital storytelling into on story. Then I realized that the amount of each element was the key. The point of view is in third person. I do like the idea of using first person for a personal touch but for this project I found third person to be appropriate in telling the story. The dramatic question for this story is "What type of precipitation does each continent get and what roles do the oceans have in it?" Students will be shown different images of continents and oceans. They will have to identify what each continent and ocean and what type of precipitation they get. A video of the type of weather for each place would then be shown. I believe that this will be a pleasantly surprising story for the students. I will be adding emotional control into the story. This will be done by showing certain images, sounds and video to the story. An example of this would be a an angry powerful video of a thunderstorm in Africa. Students would feel excitement at the sights and sounds of the powerful storm. An image of mist falling in a rain forest in South America with the sound of birds and a slow calm music would create a different feeling for the students. My voice will also help the emotional control of the story. By changing the dynamic and tone of my voice I will be able to help set the mood. The soundtrack for my story is going to be a lot of fun to listen to. It is going to be set to the different types of precipitation and continents. I am going to find different sound effects online that will fit along as well. I am planning on having the music mainly instrument. I would like to find some music with vocals to use but I have yet found anything that really fits. The economy of the story will be easy to create. Each continent will have strikingly different images and sounds. The audience will easily be able to see the patterns in the story without having to be lead too much. The pacing for each clip is going to approximately be equal. I want the clips to be long enough to be memorable but not too slow or rushed. I am going to make small breaks during the transitions between different continents while having the images are sill staying in the rhythm.

This is my Google Document for my unit question II.


My Storyboard template

Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling allows us to make a connection between the past and the present. When we do this, we are able to get a better understanding of both. Digital storytelling can change our view on the past and present. By understanding the past and present, we are able to construct a better future.
Digital storytelling is great for elementary students to use. Students usually want to share what they know and their stories. This tool allows them to become better story tellers. By telling their stories digitally, students become better writers. Students learn more from watching. Teachers can make digital stories for their students to watch. When students make their own digital stories they become more engaged and learn more by creating the story.

Voice threads, slide casts and slide shares are great tools to use for multicurricular integration. Teachers are able to combine writing, technology, research skills, math and science into one lesson. My unit plan topic is: "Why is water important?" By using these tools the students are exposed to using technology to view anything that I have for them to watch. In order to complete certain assignments, the students would have to create their own voice treads, slide casts, and slide shares. This will allow the students to learn how to properly and creatively use the tools. While they are doing this, they will have to do research to find answers to certain guided questions that I will provide for them. They will have to use their research tools and resources. They will still be learning about the water cycle and water sources at the same time. Students will be able to work on and improve their writing skills when they write their own digital story by using voice threads, slide casts, and slide shares. Once they have completed their assignment, I would give them time to look at each others work to leave comments on and questions. In doing this, the students would exercise their communication skills.
In my future class room. I would have the students do something similar to with with other assignments. Once a week the students could even do a show and tell digital story by using voice threads, slide casts and slide shares. They would be practicing their writing and technology skills while being given a creative freedom. The possibilities are endless as to how the students can use these tools. The students could also collaborate on voice threads, slide casts and slide shares while working on an assignment. I can create voice threads for my students to watch and comment on during class. This would the students to be more active and engaged in their assignment.

Here is a great little video about slide sharing by eduwiki.com


My Slide Share:

Why Is Water Important

View more presentations from Samantha Hosea.

This is my Google Doc.

Internet Resources

When I usually use the internet for research, I have a few selected sites that use and I never really explore the rest of the possibles. For this assignment I broke out of that shell. The amount of internet resources are astonishing. There are so many safe and educational for young students. When these young students gain access to some of the student search engines they really do have world at their finger tips. They can learn about any topic and any thing that they can imagine. This is my works cited document for my unit plan on water.

Internet Search Engines	By using internet search engines the students become more involved in their learning. They would be inquiring about the topic instead of the teacher just giving them information. This allows the students to have more "hands on" time and could help them understand the material better than the more traditional techniques. I would give the students a list of search engines and several questions that they would be able to find by using the resources.
Internet Research	It would help students learn more about their topic while allowing them the freedom to find the information needed on their own. The students would be using inquiry based learning.
Tagging/Bookmarking	Tagging is great for teachers and students to use. It simple enough for the second graders to use. Tagging would help the students with their research and it would help them with their organizational skills. I would show a simple video of how to use tagging from teacher tube and then slowly, show them an example of me doing it as well. Afterward, I would have the class follow along with a few guided tags.
E-mail	E-mail is one of the most used internet tools. It is very important for communication today. Students could use email to collaborate and help each other on homework and projects. It also gives them more access to the teacher. They can email their teacher problems or concerns at any time instead of just during their class time. This is an important way for parents to stay in contact with teachers as well. I would have the students make a separate new email account just for their class. Through this email account they can stay in contact with each other for homework help and with the teacher. They would learn how to become better collaborators by using e-mail.
Instant Messaging (IM)	Instant messaging is another useful internet tool for communication. It allows students to carry on a written conversation. This would be a great tool for students to use during projects in which they must collaborate with one another.
Surveys/Opinion Polls	Opinion polls are important because it requires communication between the students once more. It helps the students be more accountable for each other. When students look over thier other classmates assignments they are still learning. When they leave comments on what improvements need to be and how, they are learning the information over again and it becomes more concrete to them.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)	This is another great form of communication for students and teachers. E-mailing and Instant messaging is useful, however, some students communicate and understand better by talking instead of just writing. It can be used by students who are collaborating on projects or assignments. Teachers can also use this tool to communicate with their students when they need help on class work. Teachers can also use VoIP in class and talk to other classrooms or guest speakers.
Blogs	Blogs are great for reflection and communication. Students can post new information that they have learned about their topic.Students would also be able to leave comments in each others blogs.
Wikis	Wikis are a great way for the class and teacher to stay in contact. Teachers can stay linked to the student's blog pages and include useful tools and links for their students to use on their wiki page.

Blogs in the Classroom

I plan on teaching younger students so the amount of technology i can introduce to them will be limited. I will teach my students how to create and maintain their own blogs. I will create one large blog for all the students to interact with each other on. The purpose of this blog would be to enhance their communication and technology skills as well as creating a place where they can collaborate on homework problems and get help on school work. When the students are working on a project, I would have them blog about their progress and process with the project. I would like to have my students interact with other students from other classes and schools through their blogs. I would like to have the students also have a free blog where they can write whatever they want. A free blog would enable the students to show their creativity freely and they would be able to explore and experiment freely with tools on the blog site. At the end of every day I would like to have my students blog about what they had learned during the day and anything else that they feel important to record.
Technology is becoming a major part of our society. It has become necessary to consider teaching technology just as important as teaching math and English. In David Warlick's blog 2 cents (http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/), he explains that today education and technology run paraelle to one another. Educators must prepare the next generation to live in a world where technology is just as important of skill as reading and writing is.

Inquiry

There is more to learning than just reguritating information, yet it seems like that is the current trend in classrooms today. With the help of technology educators are beginning to see that maybe this is not best way to teach. Students enjoy learning more when they are able to apply all five senses to what they are learning. By doing this they are able to grasp a better understanding of what they are learning about. Young childern by nature are curious. In allowing them the freedom to engage in an exploration process they are able to raise thier own questions, give thier own examples and use thier own observations. When educators use project based learning they introduce students to new levels of communication and presentation skills, reflection skills and group participation skills. Students also are able to see how thier academic work can be connected to real life issues.
For my unit plan my essential question is: Why is water important?
Unit Question 1: What is the water cycle?
Unit Question 2: Where can water be found?
Unit Question 3: How often do I use water?
I plan on having the students first brainstorm on their own for ideas and explanations to the unit questions. I will have the students do their own research to find where water can be found. I would require them to create their own journal in which they would record when, and how much water they would use every day. Once they collect a few days worth of data I would have them compile the data in to a graph. For a project based learning experience, I would have the students create their own mini water cycle.