Chip- so true, that many families have a wonderful tool for story creation in their pockets. As educators consider how to support families with learning at home, this can be important to consider, how to use these tools to enjoy and learn together, combine hands-on and digital experiences.
Reading a book in the home, or looking at or listening together to one of the many stories becoming available online, families might discuss if the child enjoyed the story (why or why not) and/or invite the child to draw a favorite part of the story using drawing materials they may have at home, or digital drawing tools available (see apps mentioned above) and record what they liked about the story. These can be sent to family members remotely (or perhaps can invite grandparents/other family members to do the same-providing each other with book talks about favorite books discovered:^)
As Chip mentioned, other benefits are available when phones/devices are used for "inquiry, investigation, research, representation". Can use features of a phone, such as the zoom feature to magnify, so a child can take close up photos of things in the world around them they are interested in learning more about, be it a bug that appears (if can go outside or perhaps an indoor spider), or seeds in a fruit or vegetable, to support spring studies/stories of growth and change. Children can be supported to use the device to document questions and comments using photo or video recording and other features such as slow motion, photo markup to support these kinds of science studies. With open-ended apps, or sometimes just features of the phone available and some imagination, can find opportunities to learn and children to share their thoughts/create, in all subject areas.
With many families together at home for extended periods, may also be a good time to consider when and how to have conversations about media use. There are an increasing number of online resources becoming available (Can use tech tools to make your own collections, such as this one
https://wke.lt/w/s/SNyMmt) which can provide rich learning opportunities, but also invite conversations about consuming and creating (as mentioned in Marc's blog post mentioned above) and why it is important to consider media diet and balance.
Look forward to hearing other ideas as we explore new ways to learn at home and how we can use a variety of tools available, including digital options, to support and celebrate creativity.
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Bonnie Blagojevic
Morningtown Consulting
Orono ME
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-13-2020 01:42 PM
From: Chip Donohue
Subject: Children and Families as Digital Storytellers
Hi Kelly,
Fun topic and I look forward to learning from you and the others. To me digital storytelling has many benefits including that parents and teachers have familiar tolls for capturing stories with them in their pocket - Help parents know the smartphone in their hand is a storytelling tool and has many benefits for their child and them:
- The child is in control
- Already familiar with the affordances of digital devices (smartphone, tablet)
- Can be used alone or together (child-child, adult-child)
- Child is a content creator not just a consumer - an author!
- For inquiry, investigation, research, representation
- Search, collect, curate and save artifacts
- Document learning in multiple ways
- Show you what they know and how they learn
- Share their learning
- Save and revisit… and revisit again
I've highlighted the last bullets because for me this is where the magic happens. I look forward to digital storytelling ideas from others.
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Chip Donohue
Founding Director, TEC Center at Erikson Institute
Donohue & Associates
Park City UT
Original Message:
Sent: 03-05-2020 01:15 PM
From: Kelly Dalsemer
Subject: Children and Families as Digital Storytellers
How can digital storytelling be used to enhance early literacy with children and families? What apps are you using for digital storytelling. Please share your experiences.
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Kelly Dalsemer
Resource Teacher, Early Childhood Services
Orange County Public Schools
Orlando FL
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