11 Tools Reflections

My favorite tools include: Digital Storytelling (photo-story), screencast, Google Docs and Jing. One particular activity that I look forward to exploring with my students is digital Storytelling. I want to give them an assignment on a particular unit. Their task will be to find facts and photos in various web-based encyclopedias. They will then choose the photos and facts of their choice to create and narrate a digital photo-story. In the past, I had them do something similar with powerpoint. Now, they can really expand their facts and presentation by using Jing and screencast to manipulate and create their own authentic work!

After going through the 11 tools assignment, I feel very technologically competent to teach some digital concepts to my students. I took a lot of risks, and they paid off! My lessons will take a different toll now that I have access to so many resourceful technological tools and resources. Technology in my classroom will not be limited to the activboard; instead, it will personalize many digital concepts for every student. Just by having their own blogs alone, will open paramount opportunities for learning, sharing and developing academically.

The unexpected outcome for me was the wealth of knowledge that I gained. Additionally, the ease that I have in using the given tools today is beyond words. Many times, I was a little apprehensive in trying some of the gadgets and resources. With the 11 tools experience, I raised my own bar in knowledge-seeking, and stayed with the activities, no matter how frustrating it may have seem. I became more patient and now feel very secure in teaching someone else in those times when they may need motivation of their own. My students coming up have no idea what cool digital resources they will be using!

Tool #11: Good Digital Citizenship

In order for students to become good digital citizens, the teacher will have to model the proper norms. One of the ways to do this is to instill ethical practices, etiquette and responsibility. Ethical behaviors involve the absence of plagiarism and giving credit where credit is due. By teaching students sound digital behaviors with moral and legal foundations, they will be sure to seek aid from an adult when something unethical or questionable crosses their path.

Exhibiting etiquette in cyberspace is no different than treating everyone with kindness and respect in the "real world." By teaching students digital etiquette, they will understand that the digital sound-waves are interacted by people with feelings just like them. A good rule of thumb is to always ask: 'how would you feel is someone sent you a digital message or video with that tone?' This level of checks-and-balances will assure our students interact digitally with the utmost etiquette and respect!

Responsibility is key when using all of these modern gadgets. Your alias traces and trails everything you do in the e-world; therefore, our students must know that the virtual places they visit, and the gadgets they manipulate, must be done with the utmost responsibility in order to maintain trustworthiness. Modeling this level of responsibility will make sure our students are responsible users of 21st century tools in all of their digitally-educational, and recreational endeavors!

Tool #10

Some of the free educational apps that I reviewed were: iTouches in the classroom, iPod touch, iTunes, and iPod literacy. These gadgets were very resourceful. There are many applications that students can manipulate for their learning, and enjoyment. From visiting google apps to downloading music, they will be able to explore the many informational and recreational software available.

In our school library, the last semester of the previous year, students used iTouches to do research in various encyclopedic applications. Students were able to find a lot of up-to-date information that may have been impossible in traditional paperback encyclopedias. This modern research outlet provided more innovation, creativity and authenticity for the topics researched. The students were very pleased with the amount of fast and authentic information the iTouches provided. This software proved that students can learn and enjoy their learning through technological tools.

Tool #9

Students can use Jing to create their own video presentation with images that reflect the content they are studying. The captured images can contain facts that students have researched. If students are working in teams, they can share responsibilities before the final product is uploaded onto screencast. Once they are uploaded, they can easily embed them to their blogs; thereby, providing publishing for all visitors to view. It's an excellent learning tool because multiple topics within an academic unit can be researched.

Skype serves as an excellent way to video conference with counterparts. My classroom did a skype activity with students from another SBISD school. Their skype partners reflected the same profile as my students(i.e. grade level, language and age). They "skyped" a book that the two classes were reading in their respective classrooms. Their task was to write higher-order questions regarding characters, plot and conclusion in the story. The day of the activity, both classes took turns asking the other audience the given questions. Skyping allowed both groups to use higher-order thinking skills while maintaining focus on the anthology given.

Tool #8

Discuss how videos are useful resources for your students and how the 2 videos you selected will add to the learning in your classroom.


Videos provide an excellent presentation-style content format for learners. These presentations become powerful tools as students focus and gain understanding of the subject studied. Videos are excellent resources in presenting step-by-step information with visual, tangible methods. The two videos I selected are in direct alignment with the content I am responsible for teaching in the Earth science unit. The video on "making a volcano errupt," teaches students the process involved in volcanic erruptions and the flowing of lava. This visual set provides a clear design of a rather complex phenomena in simple, easy-to-understand styles. It clearly teaches students the processes that take place when volcanoes errupt; thereby, causing magma to rise to the surface of the Earth.


The other video teaches students the types and compositions of rocks. The narrator provides easy-to-understand examples to present mineral content, formations and uses of rocks. Since rock formation is clearly paralleled with volcanic erruptions, I felt these two concepts were important to share as I introduce this rather rigorous, abstract subject for young learners.

Tool #7

In your blog, write a short post about your experience with digital storytelling. Include how you might have students use digital stories in your classroom.


Digital storytelling serves as a good visual for learners to synthesize their learning in a clear, candid way! The use of photo stories provides many opportunities for students to share information, edit its content and publish the information for others to critique. Students can research an array of topics, gather the information they would like to share, and finally create a video with sounds and visual aids provided in digital storytelling. In addition to the publisher sharing their understanding, their audience can learn something new! Whether it's volcanoes in science, problem-solving in math, or Dr. Seuss in language arts, digital storytelling opens many opportunities for students to tell a story about their understanding of the subject at hand!