I intend to teach high school social sciences, probably history, government, and economics. My idea for a digital storytelling project would be to have students do a project where they pick a topic and link that topic through various events in history. This would be an end of the year project for history or government students. They could choose a topic like prejudice, war, or liberty and discuss what these things meant throughout different time periods and their impact on people’s lives ending with what impact these issues have on their own lives. Students could use whatever media format they wanted: Prezi, video, live performance, etc. They would have to create a storyboard and get approval before doing the final project. Students could bring in quotes, audio, images, or video that emphasized their points. For this project, they would need various web resources including sites with information on history and digital storytelling as well as how-to sites where they can learn how to incorporate different media in their project. I would likely direct my students to the Florida Center for Instructional Technology site (http://fcit.usf.edu/). They have all sorts of resources for copyright free materials. By the end of the school year, I intend to have completed lessons on primary and secondary sources as well as internet research, which would deal with evaluating websites. In order to get students to produce the type of digital storytelling project I want, I would probably do a lesson on what digital storytelling is and create an example for them to view. I would also tell them not to limit themselves by copying my example. I want something that is creative and meaningful for them not just something that they’re doing for a grade. I want my students to have the skills to be able to find and incorporate the information they need, not just to regurgitate facts and I think that this project would do that as well as teach 21st century skills through the use of technology.
I love your idea! A project like that sounds like it would be really interesting for an end of the year project for history. It sounds like it would really get the students motivated, rather than a traditional written report. I also think it is a good idea to give them an example but telling them at the same time not to be limited by it and be creative. Great ideas! Jennifer
ReplyDeleteI really like how you took this history project and made it about the same thing over time, and not just one big event that happened in one time period. The students seeing how one idea has changed the way America, or the world thinks, could give them a lot of new insight, and possibly think of history in a new way. Thanks for that idea.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the idea of students not just copying your idea after showing them the video. I know this is hard for students to get away from... since I also think I should do mine similar to the teacher to get all the points, but I hope that digital storytelling gives the students the chance to show the skills they are best in, whether it is typing information, finding good pictures and videos, or adding their own creative touches and they can use those to create presentations that are meaningful to them. We all know that if they students have fun and it is meaningful to them, they are more likely to remember and use the information.
Megan H
I love this idea! What a great way in engage students and get them learning AND interested in historical events!
ReplyDeleteThis idea will truly help students become engaged in history but also learn it in a totally new way. This project idea also allows them to learn on their own. They can do research at home and most likely will get deeper and deeper into their topic.
This project incorporates all types of learning, kinesthetic, visual and even auditory. Possibly there are some audio files which others may have created that could have someone reading an Abe Lincoln speech. OR the student themselves could record the speech to incorporate into their presentation.
The options are endless and exciting!
GREAT idea!
- Chrystal
I will echo everyone else's comments when i say that this is a pretty neat idea. I like how open the topic is, but at the same time easily understandable. You could get countless different examples from all of your students.
ReplyDeleteThis project should help reinforce their technology presentation skills as well as introduce students to topics in history they might not otherwise have been so familiar with.
Great Job.
"I want my students to have the skills to be able to find and incorporate the information they need, not just to regurgitate facts..." I like how you want your students to incorporate many events into one topic. It is a great way to stretch their minds and make them think! Throughout much of their education our students have been asked to simply regurgitate facts and not think for themselves. For many of them, this is a scary concept- having their own opinion.
ReplyDeleteHaving your students using various forms of technology - audio, video, images- is a great way to make sure that they get the exposure and opportunity to familiarize themselves with all the different forms of technology that are out there. I also like that you want them to know the difference between a primary and secondary source. Imagine what a world of difference it can make when they can differentiate between and two and use them appropriately in a presentation.
Excellent idea!