Viewing of Digital Storytelling Projects

I watched the Digital Storytelling Projects and commented on the blogs of the following six class members:
1. Lauren MacDonald
2. Kylie Jensen
3. Kim Brown
4. Betsy Rodriquez
5. Leah Garrett
6. Beth Peach

Digital Storytelling Challenge Video

Poetry Interpretation: Messy Room by Shel Silverstein

Challenges of Implementing a Digital Storytelling Project in the Classroom

I think that the most difficult challenge in implementing a digital storytelling project in an elementary education classroom would be finding the time to teach the students to use the programs and to assist each student with their problems when they arise. With the push for higher test scores, teachers are already cramming their days full of required curriculum and often feel that they do not have time to add projects such as this digital storytelling project into their classroom curriculum. Although this project would be helping the students improve their reading, writing, and technology skills, teachers may find that the time it takes to teach each of their twenty-five students the technology and to help them when they have problems is not worth it and instead resort to the standard paper and pencil method of teaching and learning literacy. Additionally, another challenge may arise if the school does not have the technology nor enough machines for every student. If this project is being completed in class, it would be ideal for every student to have a computer. If this is not the case, the teacher may have to implement a rotation system or assign the projects as homework.

TPACK

From the class discussion and my readings, I have gathered that TPACK is the way of thinking about how to integrate technology into teaching. The three types of knowledge--technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge--are at the core of the TPACK framework. This makes sense as TPACK stands for Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge. Through the TPACK framework, teachers come to understand how to use technology to support both the content they teach as well as the pedagogical strategies and methods they use to teach particular content areas and manage the class.

It is necessary for teachers to have this knowledge because without it, they will not be able to fully utilize technology in their teaching. Without understanding and integrating the content and pedagogy oriented tools offered by the TPACK framework. teachers will be limited in their resources and will not be able to offer the students the highest quality of education.

Storyboard

Most Useful Knowledge Gained This Week

The most useful thing I learned in doing this week's assignment was how to embed links onto my website. Before doing this week's assignment, I knew nothing about embedding and did not realize how simple it was to create a personal website using a program such as pbworks. I was shocked at how easily videos, calendars, pictures, etc can be edited and posted to my website. In addition, it has been very useful to have access to the free teaching tool links. These tools will be extremely useful to me as a teacher. My knowledge of these tools as well as my ability to use them will allow me to easily implement variety and technology into my teaching and instruction.

Synchronous Video

Here is my synchronous video chat with Sarah Kunz!

Asynchronous Video

Here is my asynchronous video to Alyson Thacker!

Technology Background and Experience

In the past few years my experience with technology has grown tremendously. School assignments and research projects have expanded my abilities to search the internet for information, to proficiently use Microsoft Office programs such as Word, PowerPoint, Photoshop, and Excel, and to communicate with professors and classmates through email and other web devices. In addition to these things, I have had a great deal of experience with other technological advancements such as instant messaging, text messaging, uploading photos and videos, downloading music, and navigating around the internet. Because technology is such a key factor in my life, I have become fairly confident in my abilities to use and to figure out how to use both old and new technology.