Digital+Storytelling

=Digital Storytelling=

Does anyone have some super stellar sites (whoa alliteration) for pictures? My digital story will be about young adult literature and "new literacies" - probably focusing on authors in the classroom via Skype/blogs. - Megan

We are doing a digital story using imovie to capture all of the different concepts having to do with line symmetry. We are going to combine both of our classes and have them work on showing line symmetry using nature, pattern blocks, butterflies, geoboards, and Kidpix. ~ Krysta and Michelle

Love it! Do your students know that you're going to post it online/show YOUR classmates? I bet they're pumped about that! - Megan

I am thinking of using Kidpix for my illustrations too. There are plenty of templates, plus you can add images as needed. -Felicia

I am doing my digital story introducing myself to my class (that I don't yet have)...This way, I am putting a new spin on the typical teacher introduction and can use it for any grade level and it can be used each year... Thinking about using moviemaker since that is what is on my laptop :) -Brianna

Brianna-that is a great idea. This would also be a great tool to share at an interview to show as an example of technology integration opportunities!- Rosanne

I also love the idea of having a digital story to introduce yourself. It would also be great to introduce your grade level and expectations to your new class and at Open House. What about creating a story about 'Class Rules'? That could be really cute if kids role play appropriate and inappropriate behavior. ~ Michelle

I agree, Brianna, that's a great idea for your digital story! You could also post it on your classroom blog, kind of like Aviva did with hers. And, Michelle, your idea to use the same story for Open Houses is a good one; there's so much Brianna can add. - Lisa

After researching more Digital Story Telling you can use any search engine to find images as long as its not copyrighted. I love everyone's ideas for their stories. I cant wait to view them online! Brianna-I love your idea of introducing yourself to your students. I am sure they will be both shocked and excited when they first see it! -Sara

I am going to use MovieMaker (also becuase that is what's on my laptop and I am familiar with the program) to show video clips. I decided that I did not want to use still images for this project for the most part. ~Anne Marie

Michelle and I have had a lot of fun getting our classes together and having them work on different symmetry concepts. So far, they have created symmetrical patterns using pattern blocks, both building different designs and practicing recreating their partners designs. They have also practice creating different shapes on geo boards and using rubber bands to mark the different lines of symmetry. In addition, they have practice using teamwork and collaboration to color designs on overhead transparencies, that demonstrate symmetrical patterns. They have had so much fun getting together and working with one another. We have been snapping many pictures, and we have also been taking great videos of the students working together. My fourth graders are doing a great job teaching the 3rd graders different symmetrical concepts. Next, we are going to explore using Kidpix, which the students are very familiar with, to practice identifying lines of symmetry and symmetrical patterns of figures. -Krysta

Yes, KidPix is a fun way to allow for creative expression through art. There used to be an option in Kidpix that allowed students to click the paintbrush and then a symmetry button and what ever they created would produce a mirror image. It looked really cool online, but when I was checking it out and experimenting with it I could not locate that option. Has anyone used Kidpix Deluxe? If so, where would I find that symmetry button? Megan, my students do know that we will be sharing with our class as well as posting it to our school website. The parents are so excited that we are learning new ways to motivate and engage our classes. Our students are loving meeting with their Symmetry partner and I am enjoying watching them learn from each other. They are taking the reins and it is so cool to watch. The pictures and videos Krysta and I are taking are fantastic because it shows how interested they are and when times up and we have to stop the lesson, we hear groans because they are really into it. I took home a school owned laptop this weekend to see if I could play around with imovie beforehand...unfortunately I didn't have the time so I will be taking the laptop home again next week. Wish me luck!!! Have you ever heard of Jump cutting and if so, is it easy to use? ~ Michelle

YEAH!!!! I found the symmetry button!!!! Felicia, I will share how to find the tool if you are interested...let me know:) There pictures are coming out cool. Take a peek! ~Michelle



Krtsta- looks like your haivng fun! I cant wait to see the end result! As for me I am using Photo Story. I am familiar with it and it is easy to use. I too have been snapping pictures everywhere I go to possibly add to my story. I have over 10o pictures so its just a matter of picking the right one! -Sara

Michelle- I have used Kid pix deluxe but I am not sure of the option you're describing. However, as I created some cool images for my digital story, I did come across the issue of saving in a specific format. I remember using the images students created in Kidpix on a website during a summer camp years ago, but I feel either with their changes or my lapse of memory, it's no longer possible to save them as jpg files which is necessary for most of the digital storytelling programs. If you find a way to save it correctly please share-Felicia

I wish we were able to use KidPix at my school. We do not have the program, we now use TuxPaint which I personally think does not offer the same tools and opportunities that KidPix does. I can remember using that all the time as a kid and loving every minute of it. Does anyone know...is there a way to purchase it online individually or does the school need to purchase it as a whole? -Rosanne

Felicia, you have me wondering...I will be asking some questions tomorrow about saving in images in other formats using Kidpix. I hope you can import their work into your DS. I will keep you posted on what I learn...I'm sure we'll figure it out:) ~Michelle

Here is a sneak peak of Grade 3 and 4 line symmetry... ~Michelle & Krysta

Thanks for all the added ideas...I am stealing them! The rules and parent nights... I also think it would be great to someday be able to send this out prior to the first day of school so that they can feel like they know their teacher a bit before they show up on the first day. This would be a great time to add some of the "what to expect in grade" tid bits! - Brianna

The pictures look great. I never heard of KidPix but it seems fun. The kids look like they are having a great time! -Sara

Michelle, I love the symmetry project your students are doing with KidPix. It looks like a project I would enjoy doing myself. I still couldn't really navigate through the new version of KidPix, but you can share what you have found, that would be awesome. I feel silly saying this, but I thought I knew how to do a screenshot but apparently I do not. Brianna, I agree I like the ideas of creating a digital story for parents night, as well as, sending something out to parents as an introduction prior to the start of the year. I remember teachers who sent out introduction letters, and black print on white paper doesn't seem as welcoming as sending a link to a digital story and/or blog so students and parents can get a real enthusiastic feel for the upcoming school year-Felicia

Below is my PowerPoint presentation as my rough draft for my digitalstory called "The Variable that was Solved". Each slide of the PowerPoint presentation will be an image on my digitalstory. I am thinking of using PhotoStory3 since all my images are still. I will be narrating the story and what the characters (x and the numbers) are saying to each other. What do you think? Any suggestions to enhance my plot? [|digitalstory.pptx] -Christina

the bridge is SO CUTE! I can't wait to see the finished product :) - Megan

[|My Digital Story] I'd LOVE your feedback. See my blog for a link to a google form :) - Megan

I finished my digital story but since I did mine on Movie Maker, there is no website to link it to. It is posted on my blog via upload from my laptop. I thought the narrating would be tricky but I stole a friend's microphone and was done in 20 minutes. I must say that a script of sorts was helpful, but I did do several "takes" to get the timing right and not have dead time at the end of a frame or run into the next picture.Did anyone else use Movie Maker?- Brianna

Christina-I saw your DIgital Story and it was so cute! My storyboard is the same as yours, since I drew my pictures, I scanned each one and found it easier to create a powerpoint with each photo and narration. I am using PhotoStory---and like Brianna I thought the narration would be the worst part. But it was the easiest! I just narrated everything I wanted for each slide and I was done in haf an hour completing it both Spanish and English! -Sara

Here is a link to my blogpost that includes my finished digital story :) [] - Anne Marie