Digital storytelling is a fabulous resource. It makes learning more meaningful and allows for authentic assessment. By allowing students to create their own media we are opening their minds to a new and exciting world. Lessons that may have previously sparked little student interest may now provide students with hours of fun filled learning. I use digital storytelling all of the time and it has many applications for the classroom. One such example is when using still life photos and Audacity to recreate passages of Scripture. The children can use many programs to put these together, including Moviemaker and Photo Story. This experience not only builds their knowledge of techonology but also gives them a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. I used this didgital story process this term with the passage of The Empty Tomb. I read the story and then the children worked in small groups to rewrite their own version. Following this, they created a story board in which they matched the photos that they wanted to take with the script. They took the photos and recorded their audio. We then put the audio and vision together in Moviemaker. This way I was able to teach them how to use this program, so that in future they can create their own films.
In addition to this my class is entering the Stories on Screen competition which is run by the Children's Book Council. They will complete a similar process by adapting an Australian picture book into a short film. To acheive this they will use a combination of video footage and still life photos.
I use Audacity regularly. One example of how this program can be used is by setting assessment tasks that must be recorded and presented as a sound file. Recently the children were asked to write notes on the advantages and disadvantages of shopping locally. They were given the choice to make their notes as minimal or a detailed as they preferred, but they were expected to elaborate when recording. They then had to record their opinions based on their notes.
One area that I fall short on is uploading this footage to the web to create vidcasts or podcasts. While I am using digital story telling regularly, I am not using podcasts or vodcasts if I am not casting them. Next term I hope to explore this more and allow the children to add some podcasts to our class blog. I also want to explore DIY properties and begin to get some of this great work onto our myclassess page. I am interested in learning more about the vimeo program that some schools have on their web pages, so if anyone has any information please let me know.
I found the Orange Grove Public School an excellent site and I am striving to get something along those lines happening in my school.
