My Final Reflection on TPTE

At the beginning of the semester, I was somewhat concerned about all of the projects we would have to complete, as I do not consider myself a particularly knowledgeable person when it comes to technology. However, as the semester comes to an end, I really value all of the learning opportunities and experiences that I have had in TPTE. I not only learned how to create digital stories, digital diagrams, and flip charts to use for interactive whiteboards, I learned how to create them to be developmentally appropriate for the children I will be working with in the future. All of these projects have opened my eyes to the possibilities of how I can incorporate technology into my future classroom to get my students excited about learning. My favorite thing that I developed over the semester was my classroom website. Before, I had not considered making a website for my future classroom. Now, I have a better appreciation of how a classroom website could be a valuable resource for communicating with my future students and their families, as well as sharing all of the important work we will be doing in our classroom. I think this class has taught me more about problem solving, persistence, and patience when it comes to completing tasks that I am not familiar or comfortable with. When it comes to technology, I usually get frustrated with things that are difficult, or I avoid doing those things altogether. I certainly never try to utilize technology in new ways; I stick to what I know how to do. Working through the various projects throughout the semester has challenged me in many ways, which has forced me to find strategies to help myself successfully complete each task. Overall, I am very proud of the work I have completed and am glad for the multiple ways this class has forced me out of my comfort zone.

Critique of U of Houston Digital Storytelling Website

The University of Houston Digital Storytelling Website is an extremely informative and helpful resource for learning about digital storytelling. The website is very well-organized, with many broad categories of information and further subcategories that provide in-depth explanations. There is a quote included at the top of each of the broad categories that corresponds to the information that category presents. The website provides information on what digital storytelling is, as well as its educational uses, which is important for educators to help them learn more about how they can incorporate digital storytelling in their classrooms. The website also discusses the seven elements of digital storytelling, which breaks down each component and provides a springboard for those who may be new to creating digital stories. There is also an overview of the 21st century literacy skills that digital storytelling helps to promote, as well as a list of helpful resources.

I found the “How To” section of the website to be particularly informative, especially for those who are new to digital storytelling. This section identifies the eight steps to great digital storytelling and provides a graphic, along with a link to a blog that describes each step in greater depth. Also within the “How To” section, there was a wealth of information and tips on how to write a script, create storyboards, create photo collages, record and edit digital audio, and find and download royalty-free music. These subcategories were all helpful, as each component can be incorporated when developing and creating a digital story. Lastly, the website provided numerous examples of digital stories which were organized by their specific category, which included pop culture, art, music, and many others. Overall, the website is user-friendly, easy to navigate, and is a wonderful resource. It provides a comprehensive overview and detailed explanations for all aspects of digital storytelling.