This document discusses using digital storytelling and media tools to engage millennial learners in the elementary classroom. It introduces digital storytelling and its benefits for teaching and learning. It then describes several free digital tools like Glogster, Voicethread, Wordle and Storybird that teachers can use for digital storytelling projects across the curriculum. Examples of how different grade levels have used these tools for projects in subjects like science and social studies are provided.

1. DIGITAL STORYTELLING ACROSS THE ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM: MORE WAYS TO REACH THE MILLENNIAL LEARNER THROUGH DIGITAL MEDIA

2. DIGITAL STORYTELLING WILL ENHANCE TEACHING Engage the learner Create authentic learning situations Involve students meaningfully with technology Stimulate critical thinking Promote shared responsibility for learning Pay Attention Introduction

3. DISCLAIMER: Your students will always know more about technology than you do!

4. NATIVE-IMMIGRANT CONTINUUM Our Students Us Digital Native Digital Immigrant

5. CONNECTING TO THE DIGITAL NATIVE Create the learning environment Use familiar tools Use familiar media Expand their skills and thinking Use technology in different ways Make connections to information

6. USING GLOGSTER IN THE CLASSROOM

7. WHAT IS GLOGSTER? A WEB 2.0 platform that easily allows users to upload photos, videos, text, audio and other exciting resources to create a unique online, interactive poster. A new and creative digital outlet for educators to keep students ENGAGED and make learning more fun! A easy to use interface designed to introduce basic concepts to students. A series of teamwork mechanisms that allow users anywhere to publish , share their creations , and collaborate with other s on joint efforts.

8. GLOG AS A TEACHER TOOL A Glog can contain whole teaching units, including text, linked video, and audio A Glog can link to resources or assignments stored on the internet A Glog captures student’s excitement, and engages their learning

9. AN EXAMPLE OF A TEACHING GLOG

10. GLOG AS A STUDENT TOOL Glog stimulate creative self-expression They provide a rich multi-sensory outlet for expression They are fun and imaginative, and stimulate integrated learning experiences Allows you to differentiate for each student

11. 4 TH GRADE SCIENCE PROJECT Select their favorite chemical reaction: Acid/base reaction Oxidation/reduction reaction Exothermic/endothermic reaction Combustion reaction Explain the reaction Research and perform an experiment that demonstrates the reaction Develop a creative way to teach their peers about the reaction Sample: <iframe src=&quot;http://www.glogster.com/glog/6m4oh243s7502c98danvsa0&quot; height=&quot;1300&quot; width=&quot;960&quot; name=&quot;glogster-embed-glog&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot; marginheight=&quot;0&quot; marginwidth=&quot;0&quot; style=&quot;overflow: hidden;&quot;></iframe>

12. Here is how to use it… Glogster EDU tutorial on You Tube

13. V IS FOR VOICETHREAD

14. www.voicethread.com

15. WHAT IS VOICETHREAD? An online application Upload images Comment on them Simple

16. HOW CAN IT BE USED? For digital story telling Biographical writing Poetry – match words to images or images to words Reinterpretation of an existing story To examine student thinking in solving a math problem To set a homework question To critique a book or piece of art To revise a topic To unearth misconceptions in students’ thinking For procedural writing or recount

17. RATIONALE FOR USING A VOICETHREAD It is engaging No downloads required It is easy to monitor what students have done It promotes critical literacy It promotes collaboration It gives a voice to students who are reticent in class Tasks can be targeted at any level of Bloom’s taxonomy

19. SAMPLE VOICETHREADS Louisiana’s Wetlands http://voicethread.com/?#u1906404 Hamlet for Children http://voicethread.com/share/20471/ European art http://voicethread.com/share/89671/ Mental Maths http://voicethread.com/share/92987/

20. JEN WAGNER’S WOTD Wordle

24. Newman Science Wordle

25. WORDLE Quick and easy graphic organizer No registration required Print/copy results (Beware of the Public Gallery)

26. STORYBIRD.COM A better way to encourage literary exploration, artsy fun and new media skill sets to inspire a creative storytellers Inspire reluctant young writers to start writing Students choose their pictures from a variety of stock designs and can begin writing their own books

27. TEACHER USE ON STORYBIRD Teachers create student accounts and can monitor the writing http://storybird.com/classes/isidore-newman-school/jungle-class/overview/

28. EXAMPLES OF STORYBIRD IN THE CLASSROOM http://storybird.com/books/bobby-14/?token=mzxzbf

29. PHOTO STORY 3

30. PHOTO STORY 3 www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=11132

31. PHOTO STORY 3 Free software program for Windows users Mac users have iMovie or Adobe Premier Elements for Mac Great if you are beginning to create your own digital stories Only supports still images not digital video Use Windows Movie Maker or Adobe Premier Elements for video clips Easy program for students to learn and manipulate

32. HOW CAN IT BE USED? For digital story telling Biographical writing or family histories Reinterpretation of an existing story Examine a historical event from different perspectives To solve a math problem and view student thinking To critique or explain a field trip or special event To explain a scientific phenomenon or fact View students’ thinking and unearth misconceptions about a concept

33. 3RD GRADE SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT Interdisciplinary project between science and social studies about life in New Orleans during mid 19 th century. Science focus is archaeology. Social studies focus is Creole culture in New Orleans. Partnership with the Historic Gallier House Museum in the French Quarter. Students create a Photo Story about the Gallier family, house, and our mock archaeological dig of Gallier House’s courtyard. Gallier House Photo Story dig 2011.wmv

34. Digital Comics

35. www.makebeliefscomix.com

36. COMIC CREATOR MAKEBELIEFSCOMIX Easy comic strips maker No registration required Email or print results (no save option)

37. What is Make Beliefs Comix??? Make Beliefs Comix is used to encourage writing, reading and literacy and the learning of English. Encourage students to express themselves through writing and creating their own comic strips through dialogues. Google and UNESCO selected MakeBeliefsComix as one of the world’s most innovative web sites in fostering literacy and reading (http://www.google.com/literacy/projects.html).

38. RESOURCES ON DIGITAL STORYTELLING The College of Education at the University of Houston web site: Summarizes the benefits and has links to more information. The Georgetown University Digital Storytelling Multimedia Archive : Offers a series of articles and includes several mini video interviews with teachers and students about the distinctive benefits of learning by creating digital stories. Council for Exceptional Children web site: Use digital storytelling to improve your students’ writing skills. Edutopia article: “How to use digital storytelling in your classroom” - Offers advice about incorporating digital storytelling projects into your classroom experience. The Center for Digital Storytelling: Find storytelling essentials, Photo Story and storyboarding tutorials, and student examples.

39. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TODAY… If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at Jennifer Williams [email_address] Julie Kenter [email_address] Kate Loescher [email_address]