Digital Storytelling

On Tuesday we worked on finishing up digital stories that were meant to be educational, so that we could put them on our website too use in the classroom.  It seems like this is a great tool to use after learning how to create movies and how to insert pictures.  One must remember to use bigger images so that they do become blurry when inserted into the movie.  Also, the text has to been seen clearly throughout the movie so that the story can flow appropriately.  Although our assignment was to create an educational digital story, it can be done with any kind of images whether it be from a trip, a how-to video, or other various photos that make come from memories.  This is a digital story that I created in iMovie to teach students about landscapes, animals, and plants that can be found if a trip to California is taken.  Pictures can from my personal collection and also Public Domain.  Audio for the video came from Public Domain as well.

Digital Diagrams

This week in TPTE 486, we started our digital diagrams in a program known as Inspiration.  Although the software is not free, we were able to download a free version to use on our home computers.  I chose to do my digital diagram on the life cycle of butterflies.  It aligns with 2nd grade science standard GLE 0207.4.1 Compare the life cycles of various organisms.  It also aligns with NETS.T 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity, and 2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments. The textbook used for this project was Butterflies and Moths (Delta Science Readers).  I think this tool will be very helpful when I start my career as deaf education teacher.  Usually students who are deaf or hard of hearing are visual learners, so I feel that this tool will be very beneficial.  Here is a screenshot of my digital diagram!

Storybird and Digital Diagrams

This week in TPTE 486 we continued working on our Interactive WhiteBoard projects.  It is still overwhelming, but I am enjoying learning about all the tools that I can use in my future classroom.  I am working on creating a flipchart for plant and animal cells.  

We also learned about the web 2.0 tool Storybird, which allows teachers, students, and other individuals to create  simple free storybooks online.  Pictures are already provided to help create a story as well as themes.  This tool helps with imagination, the basics of storytelling, and helping to make reading meaningful and fun for all ages. 
This is a story I created about activities a person can do during their free time.  Check it out, and make your own story!
http://storybird.com/books/free-time-favorites/

On Thursday we started learning about digital diagrams.  We ran through an example, and also a few ways to use this tool through the program Inspiration.  Although it is not free, one can learn about making digital diagrams through a trial period.  I also found a  2nd grade science textbook to guide my project on the life cycle of a butterfly.  

IWB, Google Forms, and Animoto

This week in TPTE 486 we learned more tools that can be used when teaching with Interactive WhiteBoard in the classroom, and started an outline of the flipchart we will create using a Tennessee textbook.  The textbook that I chose to use for this activity was Tennessee Science grade 5.  I plan to create my flipchart by starting the title slide with the Science standard GLE 0507.1.1, my name, and what grade and subject that the interaction will be about.  Page 1 and 2 will introduce vocabulary words for aspects of plant and animal cells, followed by a review of these words on page 3 and 4.  On page 5 will present a picture of a plant cell, and on page 6 students will be able to interact with the board to label parts of the plant cell.  On page 7 will be a picture of the overview of a animal cell, and on page 8, students will be able to label the parts for this type of cell.
On Tuesday the class learned how to use the easy and efficient Google Forms.  With this Web 2.0 tool, one as a teacher is able to create a vast amount of forms that allows students to go in and record their answers, and the teacher is able to go back in and see all answers, when they were submitted, and can highlight what students may need help with.
On Thursday my group presented the Web 2.0 tool Animoto.  This is an awesome tool that can be used in the classroom by teachers and students.  There are many ways to use this tool from study guides, virtual field trips, and movie trailers for books and stories. 

 Here is a Google Form I made asking questions about "favorites", and an Animoto video I created with an overview of the planets of outer space.


Make your own photo slideshow at Animoto.