New Literacy Project

For my New Literacy Project I chose to teach about environmental literacy through the use of a digital story. As I began this project I was overwhelmed and did not know where to start. By the end, however, I felt confident in my presentation.
As I began the process of learning about digital storytelling I became nervous. I reviewed many different digital stories to get an idea as to what a digital story is. After viewing many different stories I started researching different programs that allows one to create their own digital story. The program that I first attempted to use was Bubbleply. I failed miserably in trying to learn how to use this program. Next I learned about Windows Photo Story. I was easily able to understand this program and decided to use it in creating my presentation. As I learned about different digital storytelling programs I also researched the topic of environmental literacy. I found two organizations that provided great information on their websites, The Environmental Literacy Council (http://www.enviroliteracy.org/) and The Campaign for Environmental Literacy (http://www.fundee.org/facts/envlit/). The Environmental Literacy Council provided the viewer with information regarding the different types of environmental literacy. The Campaign for Environmental Literacy gave the reader a great definition and a ladder of steps to take in order to obtain environmental literacy. Overall, as I worked on this project my understanding of literacy and technology changed. I began with a view that linked literacy to the ability to be able to read and technology to the ability to be able to use Microsoft Word. Today, I see literacy as a broad category of understanding. Literacy incorporates how people work with other people of their society, people of a foreign land, and the environment. I realize, at the same time, that there are other forms of literacy that I have yet to be introduced to. By far the biggest change I have seen in myself is that I am more opened minded to what literacy can be. Technology is no longer turning on and off a computer, technology is using a computer or device in a way to display knowledge. Technology is websites, digital storytelling, blogs, wikis, and many more things I have yet to learn.
In the classroom I would definitely use digital storytelling to teach. With the first grade classroom I am currently placed in I would use a digital story I made to teach the class. However, I would not expect them to teach others through the use of digital storytelling. I do feel that older students, third grade and up, could replace the classic research paper with a digital story. Overall, using Windows Photo Story is much more interesting than typing a paper. It also forces the student to think outside of the box in terms of creativity. With diverse learners, a digital story would give them a way to show what they have learned without having them talk in front a large crowd, minimizing the number of mistakes.