Digital Storytelling and Me

Filming? Storytelling! Lessons --

Digital Storytelling is such a natural for the students. They seem to crank those things off so easily. I wonder if it helps that they tend to work in small groups. Is digital story telling a collaborative activity? Even when they don’t, however, they do such an incredible job. Look at these student book reviews from last year.

Collaboration did not appear to be necessary for the beautiful stories told by my classmates. Each story was strong and entertaining, informative and fun, all at the same time. 

Being a natural — that is not the case for Mrs. Rogers!

I used iMovie this time.I felt awkward getting back on board and did not truly figure out how to use all the features. I also think that I did too much at a time. Conceiving an idea, photographing, screen shots, music, film clips, arghhh! Too much!

I love the format, love the idea, love what you can share. Perhaps my plan was too  complicated. I may need to scale it back a bit. I think that if I use digital storytelling myself more frequently I will become stronger at the medium.

There was a time a few years ago when I made several in a short space of time. My patience was tested but my skills were stronger back then! This one was on the Flip Camera with Flip Share - technology that has already come and gone!

Baby steps!

In the library, students can continue to use Digital Storytelling to share their books. Book trailers are incredibly popular with students — especially when they are good! Sorry to say, it can be more effective that the old fashioned book talk!

Digital storytelling can be valuable for teaching research skills. That has been something I have thought about for a few years now, actually. Research that is specific to Roosevelt. Making the movies will need to become a priority — slow but steady may be the case.

Finding Fiction

The Tweeting

The Tweeting --

I have had a Twitter account for three years now. My Twitter handle is named after my school and library. Looking back, I wonder if that was a problem. My gentle Tweeting did not result in many followers. Is it because I did not use my name? But I felt I was there to represent my Library. I would love to hear feedback on that dilemma!

In my effort to control my screen life, I have never added the Twitter app to my phone. I only check it and participate via computer. Another bad decision?

I do enjoy seeing what my colleagues in other local school libraries are doing. That has been my main pleasure of Tweeting! 

Time to step up my Twitter participation - thank you 776!

Reading Without Walls seems perfect for Roosevelt Middle School. I never would have learned about this idea without Twitter! I read so much — online, through magazines, and so on. But keeping track is hard. Twitter can help me organize all of this! 

The Chats! Never knew such a thing existed. Sounds great for me! Sitting where ever — home on the couch, desk after work, waiting room at doctor’s office and you can participate in a chat.

I checked out the list. I was disappointed not to learn more details so I just decided to dive right in.

The first chat I joined — right time, right time zone and everything. No one showed up!

I tried a second later that same day.  #blogchat gathers every Sunday night. Love the regularity! Mark Collier advises on how to build your brand through blogging.  

The tweets came in pretty fast. It was hard for me to follow. Also, I became easily confused with how to respond. Practice helps! When the moderator responded to me I was shocked!!! But that exchange certainly built confidence.

So hurt, however, when another participant made what I considered a snide comment about one of my comments! Was I reading too much into it? Was I delving into the part of online communication that I did not like — the safety some feel in typing something that they would not say to your face? I’m over it — and I have tried other chats!