Digital Storytelling and the 5th Grade Classroom

As a 5th Grade teacher, I have dreams of using Digital Storytelling in the classroom. I need more time and technology for it to take off and to be effective in my classroom environment. I see Digital Storytelling working very well in the Social Studies content area (where instructional and educational value is lacking in 5th grade).

Digital Storytelling in Social Studies would be a way for students to open their minds and creatively bring historical events to life! Below is my dream "Digital Story Social Studies Lesson":

Lesson: A History Book "Hello" (Digital Storytelling)

Purpose: Students will recreate a historical event through a fictional characters eyes, using multi-media tools such as computers, PowerPoint or Prezi, audio and video recordings to accurately explain the event in history with detail.

Materials: Access to computer or laptop, PowerPoint, Prezi Student account, video recording technology, and audio recording technology.

Groups of 2-3 Students

Plan: Students will first choose a historical event that they are interested in. Once they have established this, they will then create a fictional character that live(s) during the time period of the historical event. Students will explain the event through that characters' Point of View (this is cross-curricular integration as Point of View is a heavily tested standard in the Literature Framework for students. Student will use PowerPoint or Prezi to give the meat of their presentation. Through audio and video, students can get creative with costumes or scenes to "bring to life". Students would need to have their entire plan for the Digital Story written down on paper before they would begin integrating it with technology.


This is obviously just a very basic and simple draft idea, but students would be able to creatively show their understanding of multiple standards for Literature, Social Studies, and technology. By introducing students to the idea of presenting stories Digitally, they are being exposed to the limitless opportunity technology provides education.

Digital Storytelling in the Elementary Classroom

The "Hard" Situation with Hardware

Welcome to my 21st Century Classroom! 

Most would imagine walking in to find interactive whiteboards, computers and/or iPads for every student, and teachers leading students through technology-integrated instruction...

Not here. 

In this little 5th grade teacher's classroom, you'll find a single interactive projector (that stopped working interactively the beginning of last year), one "teacher" desktop computer, and two "student" desktop computers. THAT'S IT. Now, don't get me wrong.... We have access to our grade level laptop cart (28 laptops for 150 students). Good odds, right?

Frustrated
is the only word that comes to mind when thinking about the hardware situation in my school. There are so. many. amazing. software resources for education today, but we do not have the hardware capacity to support them, nor do we have enough for all of my students to have access to. Too many teachers today are looking to pages like Go Fund Me, in hopes of earning monetary donations to purchase class sets of iPads or computers for their students... Something that shouldn't be happening in my opinion.

I'm also frustrated
because I am working in an affluent school district where our resources and funds could and should be used for educational technology. I walk into other schools in my district and I see these amazing technology resources available to students and teachers, so why isn't there continuity throughout the classrooms and schools.

We have 21st Century Learners who do not basic Word Processing Skills. We have 21st Century Learners who do not have access to computers and internet outside the classroom walls. We have 21st Century Learners who do not have education courses that teach them internet safety and computer skills.

As I continue to read resources regarding technology increasing in today's classroom, I am hopeful. I'm just not seeing or feeling the impacts of this yet. And the even more frustrating part is that my students are the one receiving a disservice in their education.

Not me.