21st Century Language Arts

In the article, Telling Stories with Video, students are able to be creative with their learning of Language Arts. I focused on a Language Arts article because I am interested in English and want to find creative and fun ways for students to learn what they need to know. I believe English and grammar is very important in schools because it is a building block of a vocabulary as well as is needed in everyday life.

WHAT: In this article, I was able to develop the sense that students work better when they can use other forms of text other than printed text. As students, we have grown up reading text after text and doing the same thing day after day. I believe that if we use other ways of learning, students will be more interested in the subject and have a better understanding of what Language Arts is really all about. The article highlights how technology can be useful to help or even save a Language Arts lesson. By having students, create videos to show their understanding, we are offering them a fun and creative way for learning.

SO WHAT: The authors are trying to get learning up-to-date with the current lifestyle we live. Technology is a huge part of our world today; therefore, we should be able to incoporate it into our learning just as we can incorporate it into our everyday lives. We can simply enhance our learning and interest by making learning fun rather than a "chore."

NOW WHAT: As perspective educators, I believe it is necessary to move as quickly as techonology does. If we find ways to help our students learn in a fun, creative, imaginative, and friendly way then we are giving them more concepts to learn rather to just read from a text. Unfortunately or fortunately, technology is making a pathway into education and we must find a way to incorporate it instead of running from it.

Young, C., & Kajder, S. (2009, June). Telling Stories with Video. ISTE, 36(8). Retrieved October 31, 2011, from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/Leading_and_Learning_Docs/June_July_2009_Telling_Stories_with_Video.sflb.ashx

Web Tools For Teachers

In the website, Web 2.0 for the Classroom Teacher, I was able to find a lot of interesting web tools that can significantly help out a teacher and his/her students. I found two tools that especially caught my eye as a student and I can believe could be very helpful to teachers as well. The first tool I found is GradeFix and the other is Scriblink.
These two web tools can help a lot in and out of the classroom. Grade fix is very helpful website for teachers to organize their work and assignment they assigned to the class. The students can create their own grade fix account which allows them to track their homework appropriately giving them a good sense of time when to complete it. This can be significant in the classroom because it can create a good sense of communication between the teacher and the students as well as the parents. Parents will be able to see what their child has due and when it is due by simply logging on to the account and accessing their homework, test, quiz, or project information. This is a good way to keep students on top of their work so they could receive the grades they deserve.
Scriblink is also an important tool that can be used a lot in the classroom. Scriblink is basically an online whiteboard that can be used among a number of people at once. A teacher or student can share their screen with the rest of the class. I believe this tool could be helpful because the students can possibly receive a step by step instruction of a math problem allowing them to see how to complete the problem. This is also good for group work and could benefit many students learning styles by being able to see it right in front of them.
I believe that these tools correspond to the NETS-T standard #1 because it allows the teacher to promote students reflection of understanding as well as model collaborative knowledge construction over a virtual environment. Since the teacher is generally checking for understanding from his/her students they are communicating through a virtual element the proper way to do something or organizing what is expected of each student.
I think that these tools are essential to the classroom because it helps work towards students learning and development. These tools can be definitely used in different ways and as perspective teachers, I believe we need to find ways to incorporate them into our classroom.

Summerford, S. (2011, July 28). In Web 2.0 for the Classroom Teacher. Retrieved October 24, 2011, from http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listweb20s.html

New Steps Toward Technology

In the article, Disabled Bodies, Able Minds: Giving Voice, Movement and Independence to the Physically Challenged, Diane Curtis explains the new technology that have helped physically challenged children make a difference in their studies. It was interesting to read this article and watch the short video because it is amazing to see how technology can benefit everyone.

Physically challenged children are given the ability to communicate through computers and other technological devices. These devices can help them learn, do homework, and even communicate with their peers or their teacher. These high assitive technological devices have really given physically challenged children a away to feel successful in their learning.

I believe this is great for students because we can help them communicate their needs through devices that fit their desires. Since technology plays such a major role in our society today, we are giving all students the chance to learn and develop to their fullest potential. These devices that are created for each individual are astonishing to see because they can work with the slightest movement. I think special education teachers need to become more educated on the devices out there and inform the parents because these students have seemed to really excel in their studies through these devices.

Technology is making a pathway for itself by creating a way for all people to be able to use different sorts of technology.


Curtis, D. (2005, February 2). Disabled Bodies, Able Minds: Giving Voice, Movement, and Independence to the Physically Challenged. Edutopia. Retrieved October 17, 2011, from http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-class-school-participation

What's Your Story?

In David Jakes article, the process of storytelling is very intriguing. Digital storytelling is a way for students to write about a variety of experiences or imaginative things; therefore, every student has their own individual story. This process includes writing a story, and adding multimedia concepts of voice, imagery, and music to create their story or movie.

This is a multi-step process that can enhance a child's creativity and technological skills.  A basic recap of the process is to write and script the story then add visual elements which will then you allow to conclude with a final project. I believe this process would be a very interesting project to do in a classroom. Each child is given the ability to show off their own individual creativity to the class. This allows students to see that everybody is different; yet, we are all similar in many ways. By having the students show each other their stories, I believe we are allowing students to learn about their classmates and learn something maybe they did not know. Digital storytelling helps students understand each other and not judge each other. I think this lesson would be ideal to incorporate inclusion into because it is letting each child identify who they are and not having to feel ashamed about it.

Not only do students learn about each other they also enhance their learning with technology. They will be able to comprehend more uses for technology by knowing how to complete several tasks. Students can also work on their writing and spelling skills and allow them to edit and review several times.
Overall, I believe digital storytelling is the way to understand a child. As teachers, we want to connect to children on a personal level and this can be away to help us connect with the student and create a relationship with them. I think this activity can be fun, educational and live changing; therefore, we just need to sit back and let the kids bring their own creativity to the floor.

Jakes, D. S. Capturing Stories, Capturing Lives: An Introduction to Digital Storytelling. JAKESONLINE.ORG. Retrieved October 4, 2011, from http://www.jakesonline.org/storytelling.htm