RR 5 Digital Storytelling Project!

Digital Storytelling Project!

This week in our technology class, we were asked to create a digital storytelling project for our current/future students, and design it as part of our curriculum. When beginning this assignment, I though back to all of my undergraduate classes as well as my internship to turn to what different subjects would require an exciting project that I could fit digital storytelling into. I started to get excited thinking about all of the different ways I could use this type of project in my classroom. Due to the upcoming holiday, I thought it would be fun to have my students create their own Halloween story. I would use Kidspiration because I believe this program is very kid friendly, and I am looking to use this in a kindergarten or first grade classroom. I would first have the students think about what kind of story they would like to tell. It could be about a past Halloween experience, what their costume is like, carving pumpkins, what their family does for Halloween, trick or treating, or things that scare them. There would be an endless amount of topics the children could decide on. 

   From there I would have the students create a few sentences on paper to put their story together. Afterwards, the students would be guided on the computer to create their story. They can use pictures from clip art, scary music, and even design their own characters/background. I would of course have this set up in advance so the children would have a set of each to choose from. It would fit into our fall curriculum, as we are discussing fall and Halloween. The students would also be doing this reading activity during our reading block , which would work itself into our reading curriculum. This project would require me to have guidance along with myself, so I would need our reading specialist/coach and possibly an aid to come in and help direct the students on the computers. I would provide two websites for the students to go to if they need help. One would be  Ask for Kids, which is a great website for students to get answers to questions while creating their story, as well Story Place which is a great website for students to get ideas, as well as understand more how to create their story and put it all together. It would be a reference page for them. 

   This idea has got me thinking a lot about digital storytelling in my future classroom and I have been looking into different ideas of how to use this more frequently with all different subjects and assignments. I believe this will be very effective and exciting for the students and a fun way for them to learn about creating a story, using technology, and learn about each other. :)

Digital Storytelling

Digital Storytelling

For my technology class this week we learned all about digital storytelling and its importance in the elementary school classrooms. I was extremely excited to use powerpoint to create a presentation on why I believe it is important to use digital storytelling in my classroom. I have had many experiences working with Microsoft powerpoint and have loved it since the first day I opened the program. I find the program so easy to use and maneuver through. I am able to pick in every way how I would like my presentation to look. I also loved knowing that my students will be able to work on their own digital story due to the fact that the process is age appropriate with a little bit of guidance. I noticed as I was creating my presentation that my students will be able to create color incorporate video, pictures, sound, and text. They will be able to use their creativity to design how they would like their story laid out. I find that my presentation is more entertaining with the inclusion of colors and pictures and not just bulleted text. I also added background music to get the feel of my ideas across, as well as an easy on the ears feel. I am excited to not only create digital stories for my classroom to show my students, but to introduce them to the program and ideas so that they too can create their own digital stories and share them with their classmates, friends, family, and possibly beyond into the internet. 

\<div style="width:425px" id="__ss_5534501"><strong style="display:block;margin:12px 0 4px"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/MaggieDaniel/digital-storytelling-5534501" title="Digital storytelling">Digital storytelling</a></strong><object id="__sse5534501" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=digitalstorytelling-101022182836-phpapp02&stripped_title=digital-storytelling-5534501&userName=MaggieDaniel" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed name="__sse5534501" src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=digitalstorytelling-101022182836-phpapp02&stripped_title=digital-storytelling-5534501&userName=MaggieDaniel" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="padding:5px 0 12px">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/MaggieDaniel">Maggie Daniel</a>.</div></div>


Incase the videos do not work

What's in your Hardware? The inner workings of our computers.

Hardware Reading Reaction

In my technology class this week, we were given an assignment that may not only end up being a future request one day in my classroom, but helped me learn all about the ins and outs of my own computer. We were required to look into our main computer and find all the information about our system i.e. Operating system, processor speed, memory, screen resolution, and such. We were then asked to find a new product that would be a new program for our classroom. We had to check the system requirements and compare them to our own to make sure the product was compatible with our computer before the school would buy the program for our classroom. 
When looking for a product, I first picked out a few different programs that I found interesting, exciting, and useful to my classroom. Of course, it was only realistic if the product were compatible to my classroom computer. So I began searching for the inside details to what my computer had to offer. I have a new Macintosh Mac book Pro. When looking for this information, I easily just found the “about this MAC” file stored under the big apple at the top of my computer screen, and like magic all my questions were answered. So I picked my top program, kidspiration, and began comparing the system requirements to my system, and with luck I found myself a perfect match. My operating system is MAC OS X version 10.6.4. and the system requires OS X version 10.2.8 or higher. My processor speed is 1067 MHZ while the program requires 300 MHz or faster. My computer’s memory stores 4 GB/ 1067 MHz which was well over the required 192 MB. My computer’s display is color LCD with a resolution of 1280 x 800. The required resolution is 1024 x 768. It also contains the required CD ROM  drive for installation. My computer also had all of the recommended but optional features such as a MAC compatible printer, Internet browser, and a built in camera, microphone, and speakers. 
I had no difficulties installing and running the program, but realized with previous issues on a past computer that I would re read through the directions to make sure I hit every step, and then look into the “helpful information” section on the website for the program, and use their tech support line for guidance. If I can not move further, I may try to contact the technology support of our school to see if they can add any guidance. I was able to pick the exact program I was looking for because I chose an up to date program and I just so happen to have the most up to date computer. I realize this is not the case in most classrooms. I found that I had absolutely no idea about the inner workings of my computer, along with the fact that I had no clue that this information would be so important in picking a simple computer program for my classroom. 
I learned how to make sure I convert MB to GB and the opposite to make sure I am equal as well as making sure I have a computer that is able to install the program as well as have room to store it and enough power to upload it and protect it. This program also requires a lot of extras such as nicely colored screen and a printer, as well as speakers and a microphone. I love this, but am sure that many computers in the classroom will not obtain these just yet. I learned from reading that it is important to make sure your computer is compatible to something before you install it. In a kindergarten setting, knowledge of hardware may still be a bit over their heads, but you can show that getting to know about the machines that we have to use, such as computers, is a good way to make sure we keep it safe and healthy. We need to know what we can put in it so that we do not hurt it, and that we can get good things to come out of it. I believe students may know more about hardware than we give them credit. 

MY Online Identity

These days, an online identity is very important to not only create, but maintain. Being a teacher, it is very important to be easily accessible in a positive way. Parents love to know more about you as a person, as well as be able to reach you at any time they need help or have questions. With the technology these days, email, blogs, websites, and the Internet in general are great resources for teachers and parents to keep open communication. 

I began having an online identity when I created my facebook page entering into college. I love how the website allows me to keep in contact with old friends as well as new, and share what is going on in my life with them through the social network. I know many people run into trouble with sharing too much information online, yet I believe if you are careful, it can be a very effective means of communication. 

While creating my "About Me" page as my online identity as a teacher, I found that having a class website would be a great resource for my classroom. I decided I would have a link on my website (which I have provided in my last post as well as to right of the page) for parents to read all about me as not only their student's teacher, but as a person. I included a minimal amount of personal information, yet kept it professional. I believe if the parents are in on my personality, hobbies, and family life outside of the classroom, they may be easier to talk to and more understanding of things. I love to know more about my students and their families and I think that this will be easier when the information sharing is mutual, and technology is a GREAT way of sharing! :)

About Your Teacher :)

Meet Ms. Daniel!! 

My name is Maggie Daniel and I am your child's kindergarten teacher! I just graduated from UCF with a BS in Elementary Education and am currently in the M.Ed masters program at UCF for Elementary Education. This is my first year teaching and am so excited to begin with this Kindergarten class at Highlands Elementary School! Kindergarten is such a neat year and the children grow so much! I love to see how much they learn and progress daily. 

 

I am looking forward to working with you as a partner in your child's education. I believe in setting high expectations for my students. We will work as a class family to support and care for each other. I am very happy to be your child's teacher for the 2010-2011 school year! 

 

During college I was lucky enough to work at Walt Disney World in the entertainment department, and absolutely adored my job! I was a celebrity in my own way, and made magic happen every day! It was a wonderful way of working with children and getting to fulfill many of their dreams as well as my own! Becoming a teacher has kept me involved in working with children and my ultimate job is to eventually have led them to making their dream of success come true through providing the best education to them! 

This blog will help keep you updated on what we are doing in our classroom! Feel free to refer to it for classroom information, scholastic references, Q&As, links for learning, classroom wish list, and updated pictures of our class!!! 

Our school has a website for our kindergarteners to further their studies and enjoy learning at home! Please feel free to take a look with your child and bookmark the page for easy access!

Links for Learning :)

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email or call me.

Ms. Daniel :)