When looking at the NETS –T indicators for teachers, the two I would like to focus on during this class are 1c – promoting student reflection using collaborative tools and 2b – developing technology-enriched learning environments to pique curiosity and engage learning.  To achieve these goals, I plan on beginning to write a project-based module on digital storytelling.  The computer and peripheral equipment has been sitting in my classroom room waiting for me to do this but I’ve been so busy with life that I haven’t written the curriculum yet or even began to get a firm idea of what I want to cover with the module.  

 To meet these goals, I first need to come up with a general outline of what I want the module instruction and activities to entail.  I have a computer with plenty of memory and the computer programs already loaded on it to do digital storytelling.  I also need to set up the equipment I have and order the consumable materials the students will need as they complete the activities.  The thing that has stymied my forward progression has been deciding what instructional materials to use.  The students need to have a period of learning about the background and field of digital storytelling and I am just at a loss as to how to choose what to cover. Any help you can give me in that area would be greatly appreciated.  Once I have the ideas and the instructional material, I will then need to write the instructions for the module, which should have 10 activities.    

 To monitor my progress, I am hoping that the timeline of this course will be a motivating factor.  It looks as if we will be blogging regularly about our progression so that should give me a push – otherwise I won’t have anything to blog about!  In addition, I am to present my capstone project for Teach21 this spring and the reason I have the equipment I mentioned is that I requested it through my Teach21 application.

 Evaluating and extending my and my student’s learning is something that comes naturally as an extension of the nature of my classroom.  The modules the students work through are all project-based learning activities which really capture the curiosity and interest of the students.  I am continually monitoring, reworking and evaluating the experience the students have during class and make adjustments as needed, rotating outdated modules off the class list and bringing in new modules.  The digital storytelling topic is one that doesn’t have a ‘prepackaged’ module available for purchase but is one that I believe will be a definite positive addition to my classroom.