50 Ways to Tell a Story

Here is a huge shout out to Alan Levine for his webpage and workshops on digital publication tools:
https://50ways.wikispaces.com/

I have shown his video in many of my presentations about digital tools in education.  Notice as you watch the video that the tool for that segment is titled on the page.  So instead of telling you about the tools, his video is made using the tools.  Granted, the video is several years old, but tools are constantly being added to the web and as Alan emphasizes, "Let me be clear that while the tools are shiny and cool, this is more about the craft of telling stories."

Where does this fit into the grand scheme of education?  If you are in the K-12 realm, here are a few Common Core standards you accomplish by using digital production tools.  If you are in Florida, the standards are the same, they just have a different numbering system.

“Use Technology”  Writing/WHST Standard 6

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.

“Use Digital Media”  Speaking and Listening Standard 5

Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.

So let loose and enter the playground of digital tools.  Better yet, invite your students into your sandbox.  You'll be amazing the amount of reading, writing, and research kids will do when they get to publish their ideas in digital media.