A Review of The Expansion of Digital Storytelling into Content Area Instruction

This morning I got up bright and early to review The Expansion of Digital Storytelling into Content Area Instruction. On a personal note it was interesting to review the methodology and strategy from which our own experience sprung. I was also sad to see that my smiley face family digital story didn't make the paper, but I have begun the healing process already. In any case, the proposal is very interesting and contains many great ideas.

As an instructional designer, educator, consultant - whatever it is this week - let me start with the technical review of the content:

1. In the section Evolution of Popular Culture & Digital Storytelling, last sentence - "Thus, his...” should be "Thus, this..."
2. In the section Using Picasa3 to Organize and Edit Digital Images, first sentence - "Since so many useful resources ARE EXIST..." I believe it is "useful resources exist..."
3. The link is broken for Children's Literature Student Collages
4. In the section Online Photo Editors, I don't know if it was done for effect or not but there are four uses of "many", three of which refer to "many students"
5. In the section Still Images to Full-Motion Video, fourth sentence - "Consequently, we now INCLUDES..." should be "Consequently, we now include..."

Turning to my thoughts on the content alone. My two suggestions would be:

1. I found the collaborative discussions throughout the semester of great importance as a technologist. Having used Mac to create my digital story, discoveries such as Celtx, as well as the shortcuts provided in class helped considerably in my development of not only the product but as a storyteller. Delving into questions that came up regarding alternative software, hardware or procedures provided additional insight into not only other options but also new technologies. Since the decline in students in the program might be attributed to accessibility to technology and the subsequent familiarity, this fact might be important to discuss.
2. Dr. Robin mentioned the possibility of making the linked courses a hybrid model. In my opinion, this is a wonderful idea. One of the key things I have experience from previous IT courses is that whether the content is presented in a hybrid approach or completely online, the online component models how the student's own products will be viewed from that perspective. With this approach the student can work at their own pace to understand the technology or concepts. This would alleviate the differences I saw this semester in skill level between students. I know for myself, my technology skills were there but my background in social studies education, storytelling, and script writing lagged. While other students excelled at my weaknesses, they found the technologies more difficult to navigate. Nonetheless, the face-to-face support in Dr. Robin's class ("And did I mention it is free.."), as well as the facilitation activity in Cam's class were critical components to my own synthesis of material within the linked courses model.

Hopefully these comments are useful.