Classroom Fun With Digital Stories and Other Technology

Hello one and all! 

     Gosh, the more I learn about ways to infuse technology into language arts instruction the more excited I am to try these tools in the classroom!  Within the alst few weeks I have explored uses of both blogs and wikis in the classroom as both a teacher tool to inform the school community about accomplishments of the class, and as a student tool for writing extensions and differentiating activities.  Although both blogs and wikis require a well designed plan for their use in the classroom that includes a plan for maintaining student privacy and security, these tools when used smartly can really extend learning and engage the students.
    
     After working on a digital story to serve as a "hook" for a 3rd grade science unit I can hardly wait to introduce my students to digital storytelling.  Making my digital story to introduce Virginia Science SOL 4.6 (Eath-Moon-Sun relationships) was a blast.  The software I used, Microsoft Photostory 3, is really easy to use, and also is lots of fun.  With very little practice I was able to make a very professional looking story that I know my kids will really enjoy watching.  I am equally excited to have my kids begin to use the Photostory 3 software themselves.  This software is so easy to use and the kids will be able to quickly begin to make their own stories.  I forsee this as another great vehicle that allows kids to share what they have learned! 

Here is a link for teachers to a University of Houston site that elaborates on the use of digital storytelling;
http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/

Until next time....

Mr. B