Digital storytelling involves the use of still images and captions set to music to convey information in a concise manner. Some digital storytelling tools allow voice recording for more in depth stories. Digital stories may contain a brief overview or introduction to a concept, or they may contain a large quantity of information. However, digital stories are still kept relatively short and should be used as an enhancement tool in the classroom. Depending on the age of the students, digital stories can become a fun and exciting way for both teachers and students to present information. Older students (secondary and elementary) can piece together their own digital stories based on historical figures, science concepts, autobiographies, or art presentations. Many times, projects for older learners capture only one learning style, visual, auditory, or sensory. Allowing students to create digital stories enables a student to engage in multiple learning styles which consequently increases information retention. Older students can also work in collaboration with one another to create digital stories. Technologically based collaborative projects build future work place skills and competence.
Young learners (preschool) are obviously not capable of using a digital story tool on their own. However, teachers can create digital stories to introduce concepts or present old information in a new way. Depending on the age of the preschooler, students may be able to work in small groups of two to three to create their own digital story. Teachers can upload images chosen by the children as well as the children's choice of music and text. Working together under the teacher's guidance begins to lay the foundation for collaborative projects. I would highly recommend using voice recordings in digital stories intended for preschoolers either of the teacher or the students. Young children love to hear their own voice on a recording. This assists with self awareness skills and oral language development.
I created a digital story using PhotoPeach. PhotoPeach is a free digital storytelling tool that allows for short, still image based stories involving captions and music. The free version of PhotoPeach has some limitations on length and image quantity. However, there is an option to purchase a subscription to PhotoPeach which allows for higher image limits and further options. The digital story I created involved text only as PhotoPeach did not allow for voice recording. I found this to be very limiting for early childhood teachers because our students can not read. A caregiver would need to sit with the child and read the text in order for the early learner to truly absorb all of the information. Using a digital storytelling tool that allows for voice recording would be much more applicable for younger children. However, both text and voice should be used in a preschool application to develop print awareness. Although preschoolers can not read in the traditional sense, they need to become aware that print is important and has meaning. Digital story telling with PhotoPeach or any other story telling tool provides teachers with a new and fun way to bring print awareness to their students.
PhotoPeach has a few other options that are helpful in creating your digital story. Images can be uploaded in any order and then rearranged. If you decide to change the image order, this can also be done in the edit function. Images can also be deleted just after uploading or during the editing phase. PhotoPeach also provides multiple music choices as well as link to YouTube for further music access. Captions can be added to as many or as few images as you choose by simply clicking on the images. Teachers can insert blank slides for text with no images as well as a quiz question for the students. Obviously, the text slides and the quiz question slides have no application in the early childhood classroom unless accompanied by voice recording or aimed exclusively at the child's caregiver.
***One word of caution: There appears to be a slight programming error in
the delete function. When you move a photo from the slideshow column to
the delete column directly after an upload, it will move back to the
slideshow column after you upload another photo. This only occurs if you
upload photos individually or move in and out of folders to upload
images. This can be avoided by first saving all of the images you want
to use into one folder and then uploading them all at once. If there is
another way to avoid this, I did not find it. This is however, my first
experience with PhotoPeach. If you discover a way to keep this from occurring, post to my blog.
Here is the Digital Story I created as an introductory video to my classroom. I would direct parents to my blog or website to view this PRIOR to their first day of class. If given enough time, I would direct them to this digital story before I arrive for their initial home visit at the beginning of the school year. This gives parents and children a face to go with the name and voice on the phone. Some children are quite welcoming to visitors in their home while others may hide behind furniture when their teacher first arrives. This short digital story introduction may assist with 'breaking the ice' for families uncomfortable with visitors.
Welcome to Head Start on PhotoPeach
