The Hardest Thing with Digital Storybooks

I think one of the most difficult things about using a digital storybook project in the classroom would probably be giving specific enough instructions that students won't feel too overwhelmed, but also give them room for creativity. The possibilities for this kind of project are really unlimited, so it will be a challenge to make the project appropriate for the curriculum as well as the age group.

Screen shot of video conversation

Storyboard

This is my storyboard for my Digital Storybook project! The content for my storybook is drawn from the K-6 Language Arts Core Curriculum Standard 1: Objective 2, and Standard 8. I feel that using a digital story would help in teaching this content because it provides a new, interesting way to hear and see language; it provides an additional media through which language can be viewed and presented. Also, viewing certain lines of text along with accompanying dialogue would most likely assist students in identifying simple words, such as the names of the colors. If students had the chance to make a digital storybook themselves it would give them a chance to reflect on different purposes for writing, different possible audiences, as well as practice working on drafts of a project. This project includes a textual, auditory, and visual representation - I feel that the combination of these three would serve to teach this content area because some students will respond better to one representation than another. Hearing words spoken, seeing some of them written out, and then viewing an accompanying picture would, I feel, strengthen the learning experience.

Digital storybook

Week 3

According to my understanding, TPCK stands for the combination of knowledge of technology, knowledge of a specific content area, and pedagogical knowledge. In other words, it is knowing how to teach a specific content area with the use of technology.

I feel that this knowledge is vital for several reasons. First of all, it is important to keep up to date with today's technological advances because many content areas can be more effectively taught through the use of technology. If one has specific knowledge of a content area combined with pedagogical knowledge of how to teach that content area, this is powerful; but then when combined with technological knowledge, many new avenues of teaching and learning are opened up. However, it is not always appropriate to use technology to teach a content area - therefore, it is important to know when to appropriately use it to best enhance the learning process.

Week 2

I found this week's assignment to be very interesting and educational! I am sure that the new skills I learned will come in handy when I have my own classroom. I think the most important thing I gained from the assignment was simply the knowledge that I can create a wiki where my students can have easy access to links and class information - what a great way to stay organized, and stay connected with the students! I was amazed at how many there options there are as far as what you can post and how you can organize things - I guess the possibilities are endless, really. More specifically, it was interesting to learn about embedding things in the wiki. In the past, when using things such as Google Map, I barely noticed the links and buttons that helped you with things like embedding. It's fun to actually know what those are for now!

Technology Background and Experience

My family had a PC until I was a teenager, and then we bought a Mac, so I am familiar with both operating systems. I have used a Macbook laptop during my college years. I am familiar with the use of facebook, email, the internet, online bookmaking programs (e.g. blurb), etc. I consider myself relatively comfortable with technology and enjoy learning about the latest and greatest things!