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Betsy Kusniez                                                                                                                                                                                                             

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Betsy Kusniez                                                                                                                                                                                                             

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1. Define digital storytelling in your own words.

Digital storytelling is the process by which individuals can share their stories through the use of digital tools, such as images, audio, and video.

2. List 2 reasons why using digital storytelling could be particularly beneficial for refugee students.

Digital storytelling is a beneficial strategy to use with refugee students because it provides them with an opportunity to showcase their academic strengths and makes deeper more meaningful connections with the new information they are learning.  It is also beneficial to use with them because it is a high-interest activity that engages students and helps them “envision their potential to excel academically” (Emert 2014).  These factors also may also help refugee students learn the new language faster.

3. Provide one idea for using digital storytelling in your classroom and include the grade level for which you teach.

This year our primary focus during Language Arts has using been nonfiction texts to strengthen these skills.  We are just finishing up units on cause and effect and weather in my second grade classroom.  I think it might be fun to have the students document their week in terms of the weather and how it may have effected them in both positive (getting to play outside) and negative (baseball practice being canceled) ways.

4. Choose one image that you would include in a digital story that clearly represents your classroom so far this year.
Please see below.

5. Choose 1 song that you feel would also contribute to representing your classroom so far this year.

The alarm on my teacher iPad is set to “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten.  It plays to remind me to send students to reading intervention and that it is time for recess and lunch.  This year we have adopted the growth mindset idea within my school.  I chose this song as the alarm because I like it, but now see that it fits very well with the idea of not giving up when things get hard and the power of positive thinking.

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1. Digital storytelling is a form of narrative in the form of a video that combines digital resources including video, pictures, music and sound.

2. Digital retelling could be beneficial for refugee students because they can share with the readers who they are as a person and an author. The project gives the students many opportunities to incorporate components that are meaningful and truly a representative of themselves. Another beneficial reason for refugee students is it creates an outlet for them to communicate with each other. Many of the students could be ELLs, who has trouble sharing or speaking in front of others. By using other means of expression and communication, they might be more comfortable and soon be confident.

3. In first grade, one component of the writing curriculum that we focus is informative writing. Students would choose one topic and create a digital storytelling media that would include pictures and videos. I think incorporating real photographs would help students to think and become a nonfiction author such as National Geographic Magazines for Kids. In addition, students would apply their knowledge of nonfiction text features that they have acquired.

5. I choose Happy by Pharrell Williams. My students are happy at the end of the day whatever happens. They also enjoy dancing to this song :)

4.

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1.) Digital storytelling is the practice of adapting traditional story through multi modal ways of communication.

2.) Digital storytelling can be useful for refugee students because it would be more meaningful as opposed to trying to tell their story in a language they have not learned yet. It gives them an opportunity to express their thoughts, feelings, and emotions in a way that is comfortable to them. I think a digital story would also be more effective for the other students in the class. They would be able to better connect to their new classmate and what they have gone through by being told a digital story firsthand.

3.) I teach 9th grade and we are currently discussing persuasion and practicing writing to persuade. I think adapting our persuasion pieces to a digital format after their initial write-up would be a beneficial way to practice their skills in persuasion. How can you utilize digital tools to persuade your reader further?

4.) I don't currently have any pictures of my students, but I would include this image as it shows collaboration, which is a big part of my classroom.
5.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm7WAQD-VAg&list=PLECDA1EC8F1CE7F19
I would choose the song "We All Belong" by Dr. Dog.
Dr. Dog is my favorite band, and of all their songs, I think this best fits. It's a simple message of unity that I try and emulate in my class day to day.

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1. Define digital storytelling in your own words.
Digital Storytelling is using different types of media such as music, video, and images to tell stories.

2. List 2 reasons why using digital storytelling could be particularly beneficial for refugee students.

One reason I think digital storytelling would be so great for refugee students is simply the level of engagement and relevance it brings to the classroom.  When students are able to interact with technology, it immediately makes the project more relevant to their lives, as technology is all around them and of high interest.  It's something they can control, and they can take ownership of their work.

Another reason is the fact that they can express themselves and their creativity. Being a musician, I am such an advocate for creativity/ the arts in school.  Giving children a choice in how they create and produce projects and be able to show who they are brings projects to a whole other level.

3. Provide one idea for using digital storytelling in your classroom and include the grade level for which you teach.

I currently teach third grade, and we have a STRONG focus on narratives when it comes to writing. This would be SUCH a cool way to increase engagement when it comes to writing a personal or fictional narrative....using pictures, videos, and music. I would definitely have to research apps and programs to figure out the best way of doing this...but I feel like its a way of creating a story in which you can differentiate for all academic levels, ELLs, and students with different learning styles. I can't wait to do more research into this!

5. Choose 1 song that you feel would also contribute to representing your classroom so far this year.
As silly as it is...I would choose Shake it Off by Taylor Swift! We use the chorus as a calm-down strategy...when we're having a problem or argument we "Shake it Off." It's a big part of our classroom!!!

4. Choose one image that you would include in a digital story that clearly represents your classroom so far this year.

I thought this would be fitting: my kiddos using their new chromebooks! Our school just got a class set, and it's opening up a whole new world of opportunities for us educationally! Even though it's almost the end of the year, its the beginning of a new chapter.

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1. Define digital storytelling in your own words.

Digital storytelling is using digital resources (video recording, audio recording, online book creation, etc.) to convey a story and share it with others.

2. List 2 reasons why using digital storytelling could be particularly beneficial for refugee students.

Digital storytelling offers many different ways to convey a story.  Refugee students could orally tell and record their stories which could be much more accessible for them than writing a story down.  Some digital storytelling tools offer pre-programmed pictures and icons that can make it easier to convey meaning. Students can also include music and other sounds to help provide context to the story.

3. Provide one idea for using digital storytelling in your classroom and include the grade level for which you teach.

I have wanted to do a digital storytelling unit for several years where students interview a relative or friend about their life experience and cultural practices (a la StoryCorps).  I teach high school and think this project would be so beneficial to students (and families), as well as for the school community.  Eventually, I would want students to record their own life story.  We would create an online collection of these stories so students and community members would always have access to them.

4. Choose one image that you would include in a digital story that clearly represents your classroom so far this year.

This is tough for me as I'm not currently teaching.  I picked an image I would use in digital storytelling, modeling my own story for students to see the process.

5. Choose 1 song that you feel would also contribute to representing your classroom so far this year.

I would have to choose the song "Where I Belong" by Tori Kelly.  Again, I don't have a classroom this year, but this song is perfect for both teenagers and for my own feelings as I reevaluate my role in the classroom.  The song is angsty enough that teens will connect with it.  I like that it talks about having a story to tell, and I like that it ends with a positive message about belonging where you are.

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1. Digital storytelling is telling any story through different modes of technology, like videos, photos, music, audio, etc.

2. Refugee students can tell their stories without the pressure of language barriers. They can open up and be themselves in a less stressful way. Another reason refugee students can benefit from digital stories is because it allows them to express ideas and creativity in a way that they may not be able to otherwise.

3. My Kindergarten students could utilize digital storytelling to tell their own stories when they are the star of the week. This is when they share photos and tell the class all about them and their life. I also think that they would enjoy doing digital storytelling to share many of their stories in their journals.

5.  The song I would choose is "Don't Worry, Be Happy". There are so many versions that are wonderful but my class this year really enjoy the Pentatonix version or Kidz Bop because they sound like them and can relate. I would choose this song because every single day I try to share joy and create a safe place where my students can be whoever they want to be with no worries. It has become my classes theme song and we play it every day before we go home to remind us that the most important thing is to enjoy life and be ourselves.

https://photos.google.com/search/_tc_collage/photo/AF1QipNI-IROpfDZsssMSmiwkOQTldo9SzBZ3hzM5x4K

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1. Digital storytelling is a digital way to tell a narrative using multiple formats, including music, videos, photos, and text.

2.Digital storytelling could be beneficial for refugee students because they can show photographs and music from their culture and their home.  It is an authentic way for them to share their experiences in a far away place to the class.  Additionally, I believe that it would help the class understand and learn more about the refugee student, as they have something tangible to see or hear, rather than just a description of it.

3. I would like to use digital storytelling in my classroom to have children share a story of their favorite place.  We are currently working on narrative writing, and I love the idea of having them use digital storytelling to share about their favorite place in the world and why it is there favorite place.  Being able to hear or see their favorite place would be really insightful for the whole class.

5. I would choose "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts. My wish for all of my students is that they know they are accepted, safe, and cared for at school. I want my students to reach for their dreams, to never give up, and to know they are capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to.

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1- Digital storytelling is a multi modal way to tell a story. It can encompass music, videos, or just talk to make your own story in a new, unique way.
2. Digital storytelling could be useful for refugee students because they can include music from where they are from to make it more meaningful and make connections to their homes.
This can also be useful in getting refugee students to express their ideas more freely.
3. I would like to use it to have students tell a story about a favorite memory they have. Utilizing pictures as well as words can really help them connect their thoughts and feelings.
5. The song that would sum up my year with my students is Green Day "Time of Your Life" I know it is corny but, working as a teacher my main goal is to ensure my students feel loved, safe, and learn. I want them to remember 3rd grade in a positive way and really have the time of their lives.
This has honestly been my favorite year of teaching so far. So for me, I really am having the time of my life and I will cherish all of the sweet memories I have shared with my kiddos!

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Using the article listed above (link on Canvas), please complete the following:  

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Using the article listed above (link on Canvas), please complete the following:  

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1. Define digital storytelling in your own words.
2. List 2 reasons why using digital storytelling could be particularly beneficial for refugee students.
3. Provide one idea for using digital storytelling in your classroom and include the grade level for which you teach.
4. Choose one image that you would include in a digital story that clearly represents your classroom so far this year.
5. Choose 1 song that you feel would also contribute to representing your classroom so far this year.

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Interactive Digital Storytelling with Refugee Children 

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Interactive Digital Storytelling with Refugee Children 

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Emert, 2014