Introduction With applications available like Moviemaker and iMovie a classroom teacher like me has the ability to create simple movies that have a powerful effect on students. The great thing about these tools is that students will also enjoy making their own movies to illustrate their learning. Digital storytelling is a way to familiarize the students with a media that enhances visual literacy regardless of the content or curriculum. Topic 1 (Adoption of idea, product or practice) For this topic I have decided to promote Eastside High School Athletics. As the Head Football Coach and Associate Athletic Director, I am constantly promoting our program within the community. Covington, Georgia has three different high schools that compete for student athletes, resources and community support. George Ishee (2013), states that “many people would prefer not to read. It takes effort. Viewing video clips requires less of both. Individuals can quickly get the details that they need to determine regarding whether or not they are enthusiastic about you, what you have to say and your item.” This video will showcase our athletic teams and their accomplishments from the past and present. I will present data that looks at the number of student-athletes that participate in one or more sports and their GPA compared to those that are no involved. Each of our 13 teams will be highlighted by brief comments from the head coach and a player explaining why that sport makes a difference in the student’s high school experience. I also plan to include former athletes who have graduated and are competing at the collegiate level in their specific sport. These individuals will be asked to comment on how Eastside athletics contributed to their success. I plan to incorporate highlights and still photographs from all the various sports. This will give our viewing audience a sense of Eastside Pride and accomplishment which is what our athletic department stands for.
Topic 2 (Disseminating Information) As a high school biology teacher, disseminating information is a daily occurrence in my classroom. According to Schoenfeld (2012), the dissemination of biological information through digital media could spark a broader interest in research and scientific process. Through the use of labs and hands on activities the students learn as they do. For this topic, I will show instructions and present a lab assignment that will demonstrate how to separate the genetic material DNA from the student’s check cells. One of the most important topics in biology is the study of DNA. Students must be made aware that this material is in everyone of our 100,000,000,000 cells. This lab is informative and fun, because the students can actually see the DNA in the test tubes. To begin the students will explain to each other the procedures of the lab and safety precautions that must be followed. These instructions will be bulleted using PowerPoint so that the audience will see and hear the instructions step for step. The students will then complete each step working together in a lab setting. Each task will be performed on camera with dialogue between the students so that the audience has a true feel of what is taking place.
Topic 3 (Entertainment) For this topic I chose to document our family vacations over the last several years. According toDuchsherer (2013),"digital Storytelling takes sharing to a deeper level to help us explore our family and personal histories, and allows us to express and share these stories in a visual and meaningful way." I have many photos and video clips of my family at various locations that can be edited to produce a movie. This will give my audience a sense of joy as they will see our children grow and change over the years. From the beach to the mountains, I will express our time and enjoyment that all of us shared on these exciting times together. Music will be incorporated that will match the mood of the scene and supply those that view it with a true sense of our family unit. Family movies are great ways to pull those extended members in that live far away and do not get to visit often. They will encounter positive memories through a digital story that would not be possible any other way. Conclusion Digital media is all around us. With commercials, YouTube videos, and the simplicity of social media the students of today are exposed to various sources of digital storytelling on a constant basis. It only makes sense to use this form of media in the classroom. With simple applications like Moviemaker and iMovie students can create their own digital stories that articulate what they have learned in an exciting and visually stimulating manner.
Johnson, A. (2013, February 13). Digital Storytelling: MSU Offers course in sharing stories using technology. The Minot Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.minotdailynews.
With applications available like Moviemaker and iMovie a classroom teacher like me has the ability to create simple movies that have a powerful effect on students. The great thing about these tools is that students will also enjoy making their own movies to illustrate their learning. Digital storytelling is a way to familiarize the students with a media that enhances visual literacy regardless of the content or curriculum.
Topic 1 (Adoption of idea, product or practice)
For this topic I have decided to promote Eastside High School Athletics. As the Head Football Coach and Associate Athletic Director, I am constantly promoting our program within the community. Covington, Georgia has three different high schools that compete for student athletes, resources and community support. George Ishee (2013), states that “many people would prefer not to read. It takes effort. Viewing video clips requires less of both. Individuals can quickly get the details that they need to determine regarding whether or not they are enthusiastic about you, what you have to say and your item.” This video will showcase our athletic teams and their accomplishments from the past and present. I will present data that looks at the number of student-athletes that participate in one or more sports and their GPA compared to those that are no involved. Each of our 13 teams will be highlighted by brief comments from the head coach and a player explaining why that sport makes a difference in the student’s high school experience. I also plan to include former athletes who have graduated and are competing at the collegiate level in their specific sport. These individuals will be asked to comment on how Eastside athletics contributed to their success. I plan to incorporate highlights and still photographs from all the various sports. This will give our viewing audience a sense of Eastside Pride and accomplishment which is what our athletic department stands for.
Topic 2 (Disseminating Information)
As a high school biology teacher, disseminating information is a daily occurrence in my classroom. According to Schoenfeld (2012), the dissemination of biological information through digital media could spark a broader interest in research and scientific process. Through the use of labs and hands on activities the students learn as they do. For this topic, I will show instructions and present a lab assignment that will demonstrate how to separate the genetic material DNA from the student’s check cells. One of the most important topics in biology is the study of DNA. Students must be made aware that this material is in everyone of our 100,000,000,000 cells. This lab is informative and fun, because the students can actually see the DNA in the test tubes. To begin the students will explain to each other the procedures of the lab and safety precautions that must be followed. These instructions will be bulleted using PowerPoint so that the audience will see and hear the instructions step for step. The students will then complete each step working together in a lab setting. Each task will be performed on camera with dialogue between the students so that the audience has a true feel of what is taking place.
Topic 3 (Entertainment)
For this topic I chose to document our family vacations over the last several years. According toDuchsherer (2013),"digital Storytelling takes sharing to a deeper level to help us explore our family and personal histories, and allows us to express and share these stories in a visual and meaningful way." I have many photos and video clips of my family at various locations that can be edited to produce a movie. This will give my audience a sense of joy as they will see our children grow and change over the years. From the beach to the mountains, I will express our time and enjoyment that all of us shared on these exciting times together. Music will be incorporated that will match the mood of the scene and supply those that view it with a true sense of our family unit. Family movies are great ways to pull those extended members in that live far away and do not get to visit often. They will encounter positive memories through a digital story that would not be possible any other way.
Conclusion
Digital media is all around us. With commercials, YouTube videos, and the simplicity of social media the students of today are exposed to various sources of digital storytelling on a constant basis. It only makes sense to use this form of media in the classroom. With simple applications like Moviemaker and iMovie students can create their own digital stories that articulate what they have learned in an exciting and visually stimulating manner.
References
Ishee, G. (2013) Not Using Video to Promote Your Products? Big Mistake! Retrieved from http://goarticles.com/article/Not-Using-Video-to-Promote-Your-Products-Big-Mistake/7348588/
Johnson, A. (2013, February 13). Digital Storytelling: MSU Offers course in sharing stories using technology. The Minot Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.minotdailynews.
Schoenfeld, J. (2012) Using Video-Sharing and Social Networking to Promote Scientific Understanding. The New England Journal of Medicine. Retrieved from http://nejm200.nejm.org/essay/using-video-sharing-and-social-networking-to-promote-scientific-understanding/