Thank you

I began this course with many reservations, believing that I was in for six weeks of frustration as technology is really not my comfort zone as was concluded in the manner in which I did my initial posts. I thought that this was a course in which I would do all that is necessary to just pass and after that I will just throw it all behind me and continue as I was going before because all I really wanted to do with computers was my assignments, email and Google information.Then Aisha introduced some "awesome tools" as she would say and opened up a whole, new, exciting world for me and demonstrated how we can change our teaching and the children's learning methods by just doing a few simple things with the computer. Not only were they simple but they were also fun. Yes it was a world-wind course but more stuck with me than I originally thought and I am inspired to really get to know more about the technology so any forth coming ideas will really be appreciated. I really do thank you Aisha for making it fun and informative. I promise that my students are going to benefit from this just as I did. Thank you again and good luck.

Digital Storytelling

I agonized for many a night trying to figure out what technology I can use for which lesson plan and more importantly which will be the easiest for me. I thought about concept mapping but it did not seem appropriate for the topic. Then I thought about eBooks and again discarded the idea. Then in the middle of the night I had an epiphany. What about using the Picture Story tool that was downloaded on your PC? Then I was like, but I am not sure I remember how to do that. Again, I was like, well you will never know until you try. So there losing the battle with myself I tried to create a Digital Story for my lesson and I was struck by the simplicity of it AGAIN and how enjoyable it is to do AGAIN. I said to myself, I must use this with my students but I wanted to know what advantages there were to using it and this is what I found out from the following website: http://edweb.fdu.edu/folio/FrancoE/ST/benefits.html:
1. It encourages collaborative learning
2. It allows students to learn and present in their own learning style.
3.It acts as a motivational tool because it relates to their personal experiences and interests.
4. It enhances writing because students now have to consider a wider audience.
5. It allows students to share work with a wider audience.
6. Provides a nonthreatening way for students to read their writing out loud.

There are a few more advantages but I guess you will read it on the website provided. After completing three Picture Stories, I summed up the total experience by simply saying "Wow, this is one cool tool."