Using Digital Storytelling in the L2 Classroom

Photo by: Anna Fuster

Since I've been learning about digital storytelling I figured it would be worth my while to actually create a short digital story using a web tool called Bubblr. I made a story that I enitiled Look Around Your Classroom by Ms. Schurr.
 
In this particular story the author is looking around their classroom and describing what they see. I would use this story to help students at the very beginner level with the type of vocabulary that is associated with what you would find in a classroom. This book was designed for an ESL classroom but could also be modified for use in any other language classroom. After the students have read this short story, they can create their own stories by showing what they see in their own classroom. I think it would be a fun idea to incorporate pictures of their actual classroom so that it is authentic and so that they can associate their story with what is around them on a daily basis.

The learning objectives of such a lesson would include vocabulary acquisition and comprehension. The students would be using their newly learned vocabulary and applying it to pictures and actual physical objects around the room so that they might begin associating those words with the objects in the room. They would also be building on their literacy skills as well as their English language skills with reading, writing, speaking, and listening. I really like the idea of using these digital story books in the classroom because you can partake in the creative process right along with your students and it can be applied to whatever topics you are currently teaching about throughout the curriculum.

Digital Sotrytelling: A Fun Tool for Classrooms!

Photo by: Gwyneth Anne Bronwynne Jones

I have just learned a lot about this idea called "Digital Storytelling." After reviewing what this tool actually is and what it does I have realized that there are so many ways in which I could incorporate this into an L2 classroom, or any classroom for that matter. It could even be used for personal use and doesn't need to be used in a classroom whatsoever.

What is digital storytelling you ask? I found out a lot of useful information about this tool from the EDUcause Learning Initiative PDF. In this source, titled "7 Things You Should Know About Digital Storytelling" they describe digital stroytelling as "the practice of combining narrative with digital content, including images, sound, and video to create a short movie, typically with a strong emotional component." They also state that, "Some learning theorists believe that as a pedagogical technique, storytelling can be effectively applied to nearly any subject."

I really like the idea of using this tool in the classroom because you can not only use it individually but it can be used collaboratively as well. This type of tool allows the students to publish their work and gives them a sense of ownership. It is a very powerful thing when students are able to display their own work to their teachers, peers, parents/guardians, siblings, etc...This tool could be used inside and outside of the classroom, meaning that the students could use this tool in school and at home. The students are also developing literacy skills in a fun and innovative way rather than simply writing something down on paper. They are really able to delve into their imagination and creativity with this tool.

"A Vision of K-12 Students Today"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8

This video has got to be one of the most inspiring videos I have watched in a long time! I am learning more and more every day how unaware I truly am about the impacts the use of technology has on teaching and the classroom. I am taking those initial "baby steps" but I have already learned so much and I can only hope to continue learning more ways to improve the education of my future students. I especially liked how they used "signs" in this video to portray the messages they wanted to send. My personal favorite was the one where they said "Let me use the WWW, Whatever, Whenever, Wherever." I fee like a lot of us assume that these technological devices that our students use on a daily basis will inhibit learning. I say don't look at it as inhibiting, look at is a challenge. How can you use these devices that these students are so attuned with and use them in your own classroom to promote learning?