1:1 Initiative Using Photostory for Digital Story Telling Increasing Student Learning and Interaction With Technology

Professional Development Rationale: This year, all full time teachers in the district were given a laptop for their use. In addition, schools were provided with no fewer than two mobile carts containing enough laptops for 1:1 use in classrooms.

Vision Alignment 1:1 efforts were made according to the district plan, to increase student access and use of technology. Laptops already come equipped with Photostory installed (laptop programming completed by district). The use of Photostory in the classroom can be a very useful tool in teaching students how to gather, package and present curriculum information to others. While a professional development on Photostory will increase student and teacher knowledge about new technology, additional trainings will be necessary for other programs/uses to maximize student learning potential using the new equipment.

What can students do with Photostory? With a little training, photo story can easily be used at any grade to allow students to use technology to show what they have learned. Students can upload photos and audio (including music or narrations) and arrange these media elements with along with text to create a unique presentation.

Example The following screen shots are from a Photostory we completed as a class summarizing what students learned about magnetic pull. Follow these simple steps to create your own Photostory.

Learning to Use Photostory Begin by inserting your photos.

Learning to Use Photostory Add text by typing in the box.

Learning to Use Photostory Record audio by pressing the record button and speaking into the built in computer microphone.

Learning to Use Photostory Save your file in a variety of ways: To your computer Send as Email Save to view on a smart device.

Learning to Use Photostory Play your story!

Additional Assistance (Links) Photostory Guide http://www.edtechtrain.com/PA/docs/Coaches/PhotoStoryProjectGuide.pdf Lesson Plan Examples http://www.staff.olympia.org/external/OHSLibrary/photostorylessonplans.html

Resources Susan Mullen (2012) . Photostory 3 Lesson Plan Ideas. Retrieved from: http://www.staff.olympia.org/external/OHSLibrary/photostorylessonplans.html Edtechtrain (2008). Microsoft Photostory Project Guide. Retrieved from: http://www.edtechtrain.com/PA/docs/Coaches/PhotoStoryProjectGuide.pdf