Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Digital Storytelling Process

                                                                                                           
For our blog entry this week, the MET students were asked to respond to one of two questions.  I chose to respond to question number one:  Reflect on the Digital Storytelling Process thus far and how it relates to the Writing Process.  Discuss your highlights and struggles, if any.

    WRITING PROCESS       DIGITAL STORY WRITING PROCESS                                                                                                               


Digital storytelling is a way to tell a story using technology.  Even with the technology, they are still a story and stories have to be planned, researched, and written.  The texts for digital stories are shorter, but students still need to follow the steps of the writing process to create good scripts.  The students will enjoy putting the stories together with the images and music on the computer because they like playing on the computer.  Before they get to this fun part, they have to do the writing.  The visuals are an important part of the digital story, but the thinking and writing is what any story is built on.  The process will help students see themselves as writers, get the writing done, and finish with a strong story (even before they add the visuals). 

For the current course I am taking, I am creating a digital story.   The instructor is having the students follow the writing process for this.  I have created a graphic organizer with my topic and ideas plus a draft with my script.  In the following weeks; I will peer edit with a group in my class, revise on my own, create and publish my digital story for others to view, and reflect.  I am glad the instructor is having us create our own digital story.  We need to understand the process and know how to create one if we are going to expect our students to do so. 

I have decided to do my digital story as an example for my students.  My digital story will be a model for them to use later as they create their own.  Since I work with 2nd Graders, they will need one on one help as they go through the writing process for the digital story.  I want them to have the basics when creating a digital story for the first time.  They will need to focus on finding their topic, researching their topic, what main things they want to say, and putting the images and words together.   Later on; as they create more digital stories, they can start working on great beginnings and endings.  Since I will have a diverse class this year, I might have them work in groups for this first time.  This would allow them to support each other as they go through the process.  If I did it this way, the group would have to have a season name given to them in advance.  I could have the seasons in a bucket and they could draw one.  My original plan was to have them create their own individual story about their favorite season.  I could even create a class digital story where each student provides an image with their own narration.  I guess my concern is I don’t really know how much support they are going to need with creating their first digital story until I start working with them in August.  I am creating this digital story to go with our first reading unit.  In the end; I want it to be workable for all, enjoyable, and involve learning in the process. 


Do you have any ideas I could use with 2nd Graders as they create their first digital story?  

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