Digital Storytelling with Animoto

Today I tried out Animoto to make a short video that could be used in an EFL classroom. I really liked the site because I found it easy to navigate and making my video was quite simple and quick. Also, the various options for music, styles and text mean that I can customize the videos I create. On the downside is the short length of the free videos, thirty seconds is rather limiting. Depending on how much I would use this tool in class I might consider a paid membership so that I could have even more options.

The video I made is meant teach the simple future tense using the prompt "What will you do this summer?" I think that short thirty second videos can function well in the EFL classroom as "hooks" to grab student interest and attention using visual stimulus rather than just orally stating the topic or question. Also, the video could be used as a lead in to small class discussions as a way to activate students' prior knowledge of the subject that is going to be addressed in class. In these instances a long video is not really necessary so even the free version could be utilized. Another consideration is that depending on the level of the students a short video could be preferable so as not to overwhelm them with too much content. One feature that I think would make this a more education friendly tool is if there was an option for incorporated spoken audio text. Then students would be utilizing both listening and reading skills, besides providing practice in each area this would also aid those students who may different learning styles.

Summer Vacation is Here

Bringing Digital Storytelling to the EFL Classroom

What is digital storytelling? According to the site Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling it "…revolves around the idea of combining the art of telling stories with a variety of multimedia, including graphics, audio, video, and Web publishing." What makes digital storytelling so dynamic is that it can be used to cover any topic from personal experiences to current events, the possibilities are endless. 

Another site, The Center for Digital Storytelling emphasizes the transformative social effect that digital storytelling can have stating that "Whether online, in social media or local communities, or at the institutional/policy level, the sharing of stories has the power to make a real difference." I think this is very true because through sharing people of diverse experiences and backgrounds can come to understand different perspectives. Also, visual imagery can be very powerful. By combining digital imagery with a written or oral narrative it makes the story that is being told that much more vivid and alive to the audience.

There are multiple uses for digital storytelling in the EFL classroom because it is so adaptable to just about any topic. It is a tool that can be used by either teachers or students. I think that as a teacher I might use it to increase student interest in and attention to a topic. For example I could make a video to tell a story or interview someone that tied in with a lesson or unit covered in class. This could make the topic more alive to the students. Also, with the availability of sites such as Skype it is possible to interview and video tape people across the world. Another option for digital storytelling is to have the students work individually or in groups (depending on the availability of equipment) to interview English speakers on a specific topic or to interview each other. This is what I really like about digital storytelling, this element of sharing experiences.

Educating for the Future

While watching the Future Learning Documentary video I was impressed by the numerous innovative ideas presented by the interviewees. They advocated for the use of technology in the classroom including video games and iPads which is not a revolutionary idea itself but they called for a revolution of a different sort. A revolution in motivating students to learn, to present information within context, to blend learning and play, and to make the learning experience less rigid. I think these are all very valid suggestions and that technology can be a tool to help accomplish them. One observation that I really connected with was made by Sugata Mitra who suggests that a skill that students should be learning now to better prepare them for their future is the ability to conduct information research on-line. I think this is a very important skill not only in the forum of higher education but in one's private life in order to be better informed about the world.

Another video I watched was "Did you Know" which presented many interesting statistics about technology, its uses around the world and its role in both education and employment. These statistics and observations help to put the modern situation in historical perspective. The video raised many questions such as how technology has changed the job market and how this relates to educating today's youth. It made me think about how the United States can remain competitive with countries such as India and China who have such large populations. Something else I observed was that the video mentioned the vast quantity of information available through the internet and technology but nothing was said about the quality of this information. This brought to mind the Future Learning Documentary video and reinforced the need for students to learn how to perform on-line research. With so much information available students need to have the skills to determine what is the more reliable source.