When I heard “Digital Storytelling” as a topic in class my immediate reaction was that it sounded awesome. My mind imagined what it would have been like to “watch” a picture or storybook on the computer, or if I was able to tell my own story. If I had been able to interact in this way while I was growing up would I have appreciated and valued elementary school more? I think definitely yes.
After reading the class readings and performing my own research I not only see it as a valuable tool for a student, I see it as an incredible teaching device. The article, “The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling” from the University of Houston, really laid out many incredible ways to incorporate Digital Storytelling into my classroom and for almost any subject area. As well, I see it as a good way to weave Universal Design into my curriculum and make it a tool of my pedagogy.
To me, digital storytelling is one of the most seamless ways to bring the 21st century into the classroom. Kids view working with computers as a source of joy, which can then translate to excitement when working with academic subjects; it allows learning to be fun and cool. Saddly, the school I am doing my student fieldwork in does not have a computer center, nor do the children have access to computers. This makes me very upset because I think the kids would greatly benefit from the opportunity. I think it would specifically help the students who have learning disabilities and find writing to be tedious and mentally draining. It upsets me that not all students will have equal access to this incredible forum.
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