In creating a digital story students will develop many related personal and digital skills. Working in groups and getting peer feedback will assist students in the development of their collaborative skills. This process will also help them with their social emotional growth, as they may have to tap into their emotions to create content for their story (Prairienet, 2011). In the digital world, students will have a platform to share their story, allowing their content to have a farther reach than handwritten content. The power of putting things online opens up the discussion of online safety and digital citizenship. Teaching students to use the internet in a safe, effective manner is critical during this unit, “talking to them about potential online dangers, and monitoring their online their computer use” (Kidshealth, 2016). Through these activities students will increase their knowledge of digital software as well. Working with different tools to create their digital story will foster their skills in various programs like iMovie,Final cut, Voice over, iTunes etc;. Overall, the creation process of this project will provide a wide range of skills.
On my placement I was working in a Kindergarten classroom. Due to their age their activities were consisted of pre downloaded apps on classroom iPads. Students were sometimes directed as to how to use the app, then were allowed to create at their own free will, while other times activities were directed all the way through for the purpose of learning how to use it. Students also used the iPads during centre time to take photos. They loved taking pictures of themselves, their friends, and their creations, then explaining and reflecting on their work This is a very watered down form of digital storytelling, and will serve as a starting point for an increasing development in the digital storytelling realm. This use of technology will serve as a positive starting point for future technology use.
Works Cited:
Digital Storytelling in the Classroom. (2011). Prairienet. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
Kids Health. (2016). Internet Safety. Nemours. Retrieved February 24, 2016.