Chapter 12 Reflection

I would like to begin my reflection with Ohler's quote that 

DST is truly new for most teachers, and the impact of using it instructionally is potentially very great. 

Jason B. Ohler. Digital Storytelling in the Classroom: New Media Pathways to Literacy, Learning, and Creativity (p. 157). Kindle Edition. 

I do realize that the potential is great, as I have mentioned in my previous blogs... but... especially after talking to my principal this last week, it would be hard to squeeze it into my classroom. All that she wants to see is direct instruction and student practice 61 minute a period, 5 periods a day, 5 days a week. When she sees me do something that is not direct instruction, when I show her what my students produce (digital scrapbooks, reports, Power Points explaining concepts we study) she just "isn't impressed". 


Where am I getting with this? Well, in this chapter we read about the quite time-consuming process of making a digital story. The steps that are required take about 2 weeks (on average, based on the table provided in the text) of the time I will not be allowed to use, unfortunately. Even the other quote that I loved in this chapter did not cheer me up:

You may be sheriff in your classroom, but you can use all the deputies you can get. Kids make GREAT technology deputies. 

Jason B. Ohler. Digital Storytelling in the Classroom: New Media Pathways to Literacy, Learning, and Creativity (p. 150). Kindle Edition. 

I know that kids can do a ton of great things with technology but they will not have a chance to do that because I am not allowed to "waste" time, as though research and working on different projects deducts from learning. We do not see eye-to-eye with "the ruler" of my little educational world, so I will have to save all of these great things for later. Perhaps, for a time when she is no longer the ruler or I happen to move to a different kingdom (:.


On a positive note, I believe that the phases Ohler makes us go through as we develop our story are very useful. My story got a lot better with each step - from story mapping to story core to the story board - it has changed a lot and became much more powerful. I definitely like this process as a student. I do not see myself at the instructor end of it yet, possibly due to the fact that opportunity has been taken away from me. However, that's a story for some other time :). Stay tuned for the little glimpse into my busy life.