Friday, March 9
1:30 PM-4:30 PM
CST

W5: Using Digital Storytelling to Promote 21st Century Skills in Today’s Classroom (BYOL-Bring Your Own Laptop)

Workshop ID: 35405
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    Bernard Robin
    University of Houston
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    Sara McNeil
    University of Houston

Abstract: In the session, digital story examples will be shown and design and development models will be shared and discussed. Participants will then work with images, audio narration and background music, to create a basic digital story. Participants will create their story using Microsoft Photo Story 3 software, a free program available for participants to load on their Windows-based computers. Participants will record audio narration and develop transitions and movement for their digital stories and learn to save their work for playback on a computer or online. The workshop will conclude with participants discussing next steps and strategies for using Digital Storytelling in the classroom. After the workshop, participants will have access to online resources and tutorials.

Objectives

Workshop participants will: • Learn about the different types of digital stories that can be created by students and instructors; • Examine the most common elements of Digital Storytelling; • Acquire hands-on experience using computer-based software to design and create their own digital stories; • Gain theoretical knowledge about how Digital Storytelling can be used to promote students’ research and writing skills as well as other 21st century skills; • Discuss how Digital Storytelling can be used in multiple subject areas and grade levels; • Learn to evaluate students’ work in Digital Storytelling; and • Investigate the most important considerations for educators who want to begin integrating Digital Storytelling in their instruction.

Topical Outline

Workshop participants will gain hands-on experience in the following areas: • Working with digital content including text, still images, audio and music files; • Using an instructional design model specifically for Digital Storytelling; • Writing and revising a Digital Story script; • Using storyboards to organize content and visualize how a Digital Story will come to life; • Using the free Microsoft Photo Story 3 application to create a digital story; • Recording and editing audio narration for the digital story; and • Saving digital stories for playback on a computer and uploadable to the web. In addition, participants will examine other important issues, including: • Other software options for creating digital stories, including free Web 2.0 resources available for PC and Macintosh computer users; • A strategy for evaluating digital stories created by students; and • How current copyright and educational fair use guidelines affect students and educators involved in Digital Storytelling. Participants will receive a CD containing Digital Storytelling resources as well as access to online tutorials and other educational content.

Prerequisites

The workshop is suitable for beginners and there are no specific prerequisites required. However, in order to use the software that will be provided, workshop participants should bring their own PC laptop or Tablet computer that complies with the following: 1. The computer should be running any version of the Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 Operating System; 2. The computer should have at least an Intel P3 700-megahertz or equivalent processor; 3. The computer must have at least 256 MB of RAM and a minimum of 400 MB of available hard-disk space; 4. The computer should have a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive capable of reading CDs; and 5. The computer should have a sound card with a microphone input plus speakers or a headphone jack and pair of headphones.

Experience Level

Beginner

Qualifications

Dr. Bernard Robin, Associate Professor of Instructional Technology at the University of Houston, teaches courses on the integration of technology into the curriculum, educational uses of multimedia and the design and development of community-based web sites. He is the designer and administrator of the Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling website (http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/) and serves as the co-chair of the Society for Technology and Teacher Education’s Special Interest Group on Digital Video and Digital Storytelling. Dr. Robin won the University of Houston Teaching Excellence Award for Innovation in Technology in 2010 and the 2009 Merlot Award for Exemplary Online Learning Resources for his Digital Storytelling website. He has published articles and book chapters on the educational uses of emerging technologies and the professional development of teachers. Throughout his academic career, Dr. Robin has made presentations at local, regional, national and international conferences and has conducted educational technology workshops in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. Dr. Sara McNeil, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Instructional Technology at the University of Houston, teaches courses in instructional design, the collaborative design and development of multimedia and the visual representation of information. She has won numerous teaching awards and is currently the chair of Technology, Instruction, Cognition & Learning SIG of AERA. Her multimedia projects include the design and development of Digital History, a free, comprehensive resource for American history teachers. Digital History has been named one of the Top 5 resources in U.S. history and has been selected for the National Endowment for the Humanities EdSITEment list of exemplary online resources. Dr. McNeil has presented nationally on educational uses of web 2.0 tools and teaches graduate courses about using and evaluating these tools in educational environments.
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