The Class is Done...Where Do I Go From Here?

It is the end of the semester, and my brain is exploding with new information. I have learned so many new tools that can be used both personally and professionally. From websites to blogs to IWBs and beyond... I have been empowered by the knowledge I've obtained. As a new owner of such vast knowledge, the biggest thing I have to do with this new information is USE IT!

I will be entering the world of elementary education very soon, and I will expect my students to practice their knowledge. I am no different. I cannot put my knowledge on a shelf like an ordinary book and expect it to be ready for me when I need it. Technology is alive and active. If I do not practice the new skills I have learned, they will not stay in my brain and will be useless for me and my students. Another reason I need to keep using technology is that it is constantly changing! There are new advancements coming up all the time. If I do not stay in touch, I will become outdated again...like I was at the beginning of this class.

Finally, I need to remember that there is so much more out there. While I touched on some of the most important and influential pieces of technology in this class, there are so many other parts of technology to experience and learn about. I need to explore on my own and start asking lots of questions. Thankfully, if I want to research something new on my own, I now know I can always ask the world wide web, and there are many answers out there to guide me through new programs, apps, etc.

I am not alone as a novice computer user, but I am also not alone in my search for knowledge. While I can use technology to share information, I can also use technology to get information. I need to start reaching out to other teachers through Wikis, blogs, and other websites. Through a mutual sharing of information, I will develop a teaching community with people all over the world.

Technology is a beautiful thing for my future students and me. I can't wait to use what I know and continue to grow.

Do I Have a "Digital Story" To Tell?

Digital Storytelling is yet another way to communicate through the incredible technological resources now available to the world. As is often the case with technology, my brain asks, "How is this relevant for ME?" Despite my growing comfort with technology in general, how many different ways do I really need to express my thoughts to the world? After all, I can now communicate with relative ease through a website, blogging, interactive whiteboard activities, and more! Why do I need Digital Storytelling?

The University of Houston has an entire website dedicated to the "Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling" and how beneficial it can be for both myself and my students. In the same way that interactive whiteboards connect students to various educational concepts through layers of multimedia and physical interaction, digital storytelling allows the student or the teacher to relay a specific point through layers of pictures, videos, and audio. As a teacher, I can see this holding the attention of today's students as well as making important connections for them quickly. For the large number of people claiming to be visual learners, this may be more effective than theoretical ideas solely presented through lecture. Also, I remember one of my own 3rd grade classmates who spent most of her year in the hospital due to a chronic illness. Had this technology been available at that time, the little girl's education would have been less inhibited because of her physical inability to be in the classroom. Digital Storytelling could have been a valuable visual aid in her studies.



Finally, I have to keep reminding myself that Digital Storytelling is a tool, just like all of the other technology I have discovered. One of my main jobs is to provide my students with tools that they can use in their own futures, so I need to consider letting them learn the art of Digital Storytelling too! Keeping every activity age appropriate, Digital Storytelling can be used as an individual or group way of informing, expressing, or communicating ideas. The activity could be as simple as building a short story with students taking turns creating the Digital Story or as detailed as using this software to give a report or a presentation. Students need to learn the art of communication to do well in school, in outside interactions, and in their future careers. While technology is often accused of inhibiting communication, Digital Storytelling may in fact be a creative and appealing avenue for certain children as a way to present ideas and express themselves.


It is still hard for me to tell whether or not I will always have a personal desire to create my own Digital Stories. However, it is not at all hard for me to see the value in learning this technology so that I can pass it along to my students! Different things appeal to different students. So, the more tools and options I can provide them with, the better chance they have to learn, grow, and express themselves.