For those that do not know, my wife is a 4th grade teacher here in Oklahoma. She recently took a two day professional development workshop on “Digital Storytelling.”
Digital storytelling is basically just what it sounds like. You take digital images, either pictures you have taken or have found online and create your own little story. You then overlay some background music if you’d like, and then finally add your own story narration. It is a great way for teachers to get students more engaged in learning, as well as a fun project for the students to do.
Along with this workshop was the chance to apply for a microgrant sponsored by Dell and WeAreTeachers.com. People had to write a brief description of what they would do with the $200 microgrant money to help encorporate digital learning in the classroom. Along with the $200 the winners will also receive a digital flip video camera. The camera will be used to document the projects created by teacher and students.
It is all based on a voting system. The top 10 vote getters will win the microgrant and flip video camera. As I type this my wife (Traci) has just moved into 10th position in the voting. That happened just from sending out some emails to friends and family, and then those friends and family emailing others they know. We are hoping to assure her spot in the top 10 and need as many votes as we can possibly get.
It doesn’t matter where you live, all you need is an email address. Apparently they record IP addresses though, so you can only vote once per IP address and email address. If it is possible for you to vote multiple times please do. Voting is open until August 10th, so please make sure you vote soon.
Below I am including the info she had to provide in submitting the microgrant. It details why she wants it, who will benefit from it, and what she will use the $200 for, followed by some brief details on what her first project for her new 4th graders will be.
Project Title
Storytelling in the Digital Age
Description
Students will create a digital story that educates as it entertains. Using digital photography, photo and audio editing software, and a digital storytelling editor, students will work in different genres – both fiction and nonfiction – to boost their writing, fluency, summarizing, and technology skills. Each digital story is told in first person, allowing the teller to gain personal meaning, understanding, and insight into the subject. Viewers become equally personally engaged in learning.
How will I use the money:
Funds will be utilized to purchase multiple digital cameras so that students may work individually or in small groups to create digital stories.
Who will benefit:
Initially, this will benefit my class of twenty to twenty-five students. Many other students, however, will reap the benefits in years to come. Teachers will benefit from seeing the projects created by students and learning how to use the idea with their students. The school and district will benefit from increased test scores due to students’ internalization and increased understanding of technology and language arts standards, including summarizing and narrative writing.
Where:
Tulsa, Oklahoma
When will my project take place:
8/24/2009 – 9/11/2009 (first project); other projects ongoing
She has decided that her first project for her 4th graders will be to create a digital autobiography. They will create projects less than 5 minutes long and tell their life story. Fitting their 9 or 10 years into 5 minutes should work for most of them.
I just checked again, and woohoo in the short time I was typing this post she is now tied for 9th place!
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