August 26 Meeting

Our August 26 meeting focused on Digital Stories.  According to Reading Rockets, " A digital story is a multimedia text consisting of still images complemented by a narrated soundtrack to tell a story or present a documentary; sometimes video clips are embedded between images. Creating digital stories acts as a motivator for students, thus they remain engaged throughout the project (Burn & Reed, 1999). Additionally, digital stories provide an alternative conduit of expression for those students who struggle with writing traditional text (Reid, Parker, & Burn, 2002). Using this multimedia approach in the classroom helps students discover voice, confidence, and structure in their writing (Banaszewski, 2002)."

Digital Stories sound good, but why else should you use them?  The Common Core Standards specifically indicate that students should use technology or other media to publish writing.  

For example, the first grade standard states:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.6 With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

Similarly, the fourth grade standard expands even more to say:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.6 With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting.

So, what does a digital story look like?  In first grade, I choose to start Digital Stories as whole group activities.  Each student has individual jobs, but we work to create a comprehensive story.  Eventually, students can create their own.  Here are some examples of Digital Stories that we made in first grade last year:

• Addy's Letter to Santa
• Easton's ABC Book

So how can you make it?  I chose to use Little Bird Tales when I got started.  It was free website, in which the kids could upload pictures and audio, or illustrate pictures.  This was easy to get started.  I also purchased something called an Easi-Speak in which the kids could individually record their voices.  This made editing possible.  The kids could also take pictures with digital cameras and upload them.  

Tracee Lentz explained that the computers are equipped with a program called Pixie.  It sounds kind of similar and although I'm not experienced with it, Tracee said that all the kids are learning to use it in music/computers.  

If you have an iPad or access to Apple Software, iMovie is especially easy to use.  This video was created using iMovie.  The kids wrote and captured everything in the movie, but because I used my personal computer, I compiled their work.  

Or from a High School Science Student from Fraser.

Or another High School Student, this time Social Studies from Camden:

This summer, I even tried out a website called Powtoons.  We used the site to describe a chapter of a textbook from grad school, but I think it could be used, especially in third or fourth grade.  

Now, do you have to do these all of the time?  No!  I would say that it is realistic (depending on grade level) to get one per semester.  If you are using Writer's Workshop, students can choose to publish their favorite piece by doing a Digital Story. 

Hope this helps!