Thursday, November 14, 2013

Why use Digital Storytelling in the classroom?



Digital storytelling, when used properly can be a great tool in the classroom. It enables a change of pace and a new angle on learning. Presenting information in different ways enable students to go about different though processes in learning. Teaching through stories drive education away from lecture style and towards Digital stories are a way to engage students in a fun and exciting way because it brings the the focus away from the classroom. It makes things outside the classroom available to the teacher and the students. Digital stories expand the limits and this can be exciting for kids. 

Digital storytelling can teach students through creation. It doesn't always have to be something the teacher makes or borrows. Students can make their own story and this often teaches them more compared to simply watching one. They have to do their own research and figure out how they want to present it in a creative way. It also teaches them about ways to use technology and how to share information in a unique way. 

Digital storytelling can be used for teachers to provide an intro into new topics. Short videos are a great change of pace and are likely to grab the students attention. They take the students out of the classroom mentally for a few minutes. This is great for younger students because they have a desire to discover and digital storytelling takes away the limits of the school walls. 

Digital stories could also be used to briefly and visually explain difficult topics for students. Sometimes learning in the form of a story or through video can help students grasp difficult methods. They mentally approach the issue in a different way that is often less intimidating. In my classroom I will use this approach for math concepts such as long division, multiplication or order of operations. These can be hard at first, but with a patience students will be able to master anything. 

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