Why did you choose this particular tools?
After exploring at least ten (10) storytelling tools, I chose “PhotoPeach” to create my story. PhotoPeach is a dynamic web 2.0 application that allows you to create slideshows with pictures, text and music combined. I choose this tool mainly because of its ease of use since you can create a rich slideshow in very little time (within minutes). I was amazed to see how fast I was able to create the slideshow for my story. In addition the quality of the end product is superb. This tool helped me to show how technology (a smart phone) has helped us to communicate, work, play and keep current with information on the go.
How did the tool impact the manner in which you told your story (perhaps in a way that is different had you just used text or related the story using your voice)?
PhotoPeach helped me to present information on the iPhone in an engaging form which is inline with the ISTE/NETS (2008) which advocate that students should be provided opportunities to engage in technology supported activities that enhance their learning experiences. Robins (2005) asserts that an engaging, multimedia-rich digital story can serve as an anticipatory set or hook to capture the attention of students and increasing their interest in exploring new ideas. The rich graphics in the slideshow will better able capture students’ interest and attention, make abstract content more understandable and thus engage students in the learning process which will result into deeper learning.
How might you use such tools in your own teaching to produce materials for students?
This tool is a useful tool since I can use it to create slideshows which can be used to move students from concrete facts/ concepts to very abstract concepts utilising images and sequencing. For example, it can be used to show incremental parts of an idea/equipment then show how they amalgamate to perform a complex operation.
PhotoPeach is also an excellent resource for collaborative group work. It has a quiz facility which allows you to create an interactive slideshow with multiple choice items on slides. Students can answer questions in class individually or in groups.
Since a slideshow can be quickly and easily created, PhotoPeach is a great tool to use for review at the end of the class.
What kind of impact would you expect to see in your students in terms of motivation, creativity, or any other characteristics?
I hope to see positive changes in students after introducing my story in the lesson since today’s learners are drawn to technology and most students also love to work on computers. I therefore expect students to be highly motivated to learn and also improved levels of participation whenever this application is used. In addition, the use of pictures and graphics should also boost students’ creativity and enable them to express their thoughts in ways they might not be able to do otherwise.
References:
National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx
Robins, B. (2005). The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling. Retrieved from http://digitalliteracyintheclassroom.pbworks.com/f/Educ-Uses-DS.pdf