Week 7

This week we explored different types of software that promote active learning.  There are many options available to students.  As a Special Education Teacher I struggle finding a way to engage the students, finding material that is on a level that they can follow their grade level peers as well as understand the content.  Across the curriculum I have difficulty finding a way for students to read the content because it is not at their level and they do not seem to care or find what they are learning relevant.
Through simulations, drill - and - practice, math manipulative activities and digital storytelling, there are many options teachers can use to engage students.  Digital storytelling is popular in the classroom.  Across the curriculum, teachers are able to incorporate a 5 minute story on the topic.  Through Discovery.com and many other online sources, te4achers can access a short story and display it on the computer to project it in the classroom.  I use this in the classroom now.  It brings the material to life.  As long as you don't over do it!  Do not do any one thing for too long.  Just like book work, not everyone learns best this way.   

http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/index.html

21st Century Skills	Digital Storytelling
Digital Age Literacy	Digital storytelling allows a student to be informed and visually literate on numerous levels.
Inventive Thinking	Digital storytelling requires creative, independent, and inventive thinking.
Effective Communication	Digital storytelling involves collaborative, social interactive, and personal communication.
High Productivity	Digital storytelling utilizes cutting-edge, productivity tools to create high quality products and results.

File Management Software
I am very lucky to have such a great technology department in our district.  I have found that he is someone to keep very happy.  Every time I see him I try to have his favorite Mountain Dew and candy bar :).  He is very aware of what is needed to make things work.  It is one thing to want to incorporate storytelling, simulations and the like in your lessons, but it is another thing to have all of the tools to make that work.  For storytelling to work, you must be able to download it with a compatible software.  Although computers are usually ready to go, there have been times where I have not been able to display something because it needs to be saved a certain way or use a certain program to "translate" it.