I began this assignment by thinking of an event in my life that I have many pictures of and I chose to illustrate an experience that changed my outlook on life. My Appalachia mission trip to Hurricane, West Virginia, with my youth group opened my eyes to all of the wonderful tools God has given us to make a difference in someone’s life. Just one week of hard work and dedication changed someone’s life forever. We spent multiple hours a day on someone’s house that lives in an underprivileged area. The smile on the face of our neighbor, or house owner, was the most rewarding thing. However, I began downloading these pictures in chronological order to illustrate the events leading up to our first visit to the project, such as the bus ride, setting up our beds, receiving our tools, etc. Dewey even says that learning should be viewed in terms of the process, not in terms of the outcome.
Storytelling “can be used to inspire, educate, record events, entertain, and pass along cultural traditions and expectations” (Collins & Cooper, 1997). It can increase students’ writing skills and improve their oral recitation skills. Digital storytelling encompasses recollecting memories along with presenting specific information. This project has taught me pronunciation, vocal speed, and how to properly use iMovie. The ISTE National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Teachers clearly outlines the necessities for enriching students’ learning experiences and providing a positive role model framework. As a future teacher, I want to incorporate digital storytelling into my curriculum. I feel that it is very beneficial for students to start from scratch, create a planning sheet, and create a cinematic video. Students not only learn the information, but also find a deeper understanding of the subject matter by portraying a story. It’s rather fascinating to see all of the benefits of learning without realizing you are learning. In addition, I am a huge advocate of promoting creativity in the classroom. Creativity defines individualism. Individualism allows for various unique ideas and concepts. I would not be able to do this project without creativity.
Overall, I feel as though this project has benefitted me and my abilities to incorporate technology into the classroom. I feel more “tech-savvy” and confident in my abilities to create a digital story or photo montage about almost any subject.