A New Way to Teach: Digital Story Telling

One of the more challenging assignments to date for my Instructional Technology class was a digital story project using Photo Story 3 for Windows. It required finding a quote that reflected my personal teaching philosophy, and then putting it in a digital story form using images  and music or narration. I chose a quote from Cecil Beaton that encourages people to be anything but status quo. This involved mapping out a plan on  paper as to how words and images might be used In conjunction with the actual quote. During the process, I made many changes to the slide presentation by cutting out some slides and adding or modifying others until I was satisfied that the pictures, text inserted, and voice narration captured the spirit of the quote.  On some slides I chose images of children in a learning environment, because both students and teachers need to embrace being “daring,” “different,” and “impractical.” I chose images of teachers using the traditional lectern and overhead projector to represent the old and safe methods of instruction, followed by a frustrated student banging their head on a blackboard. The intent of my digital project is to challenge teachers to be different and teach unique!

The project met the following ISTE-NET standards for students:

Demonstrate creativity and innovation
Communicate and collaborate
Conduct research and use information
Think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
Use technology effectively and productively

ISTE-NET Standards for students

The assignment also met the following ISTE-NET standards for teachers:

1a. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual   understanding and thinking, planning, and creative process.

2a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
2b.	develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
2c.	customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
3a.	demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
3c.	communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.
3d.	model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning
4a.	advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.
4c.	promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.
b.	exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others.
d.	contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.

ISTE-NET Standards for Teachers