Week 6 Discussion

By utilizing technology for storytelling and paper writing, students gain a familiarity with the various aspects of the technology they are using to create the story. For instance, by using iMovie, students also learn how to import pictures, video, and audio files into the program to use in their story. They also learn how all these tie together to make an impact on the reader/watcher. This could be useful outside of school in a business, for instance, when making a presentation for a meeting. If the content is interesting and well laid out, it will be much more effective at presenting the ideas contained within.
I believe that there is no end to the amount of learning a teacher should have concerning technology before bringing it into the classroom, as technology is constantly improving and evolving. It would be impossible to know everything there is to know about it. That being said, the teacher should have enough knowledge to be able to help students import files to the software being used, how to troubleshoot problems concerning saving the presentation, for instance, and also tips and tricks that might make it easier for the students to complete the assignment. Also, and I say this from personal experience, the teacher should be able to troubleshoot problems where plug-ins are required for a system, such as the newest version of Flash media player, so that each student can get the materials needed to complete their project.
By giving shy students the opportunity to make their presentation with a video, it might help take the pressure they may feel with all eyes just on them. The concept of having to entertain everyone in a class can be hard for some people, so when they have more than one thing for the audience to look at and pay attention to, they can relax a little, knowing that they don't have to "perform" the entire time. However, relying solely on technology during presentations may not be a great idea either. If a high school teacher gives all students the opportunity to use digital presentations for their papers, the students may be unprepared when they get to college, if the professors there decide they want the students to hand write their papers, and present them in front of the class, with no technology at all. Outspoken students, on the other hand, could benefit from digital storytelling because by having another "presentor" going on, they are forced to turn the limelight over to the digital presentation. This could help enforce the idea that perhaps they are not necessarily the most important thing going on all the time, constantly. It could also help them stay concise and to the point, if they tend to babble and go off on tangents, especially if there is a time limit in place. It is much easier to monitor total time if it is handily displayed on the bottom of the screen at all times.