Digital Storytelling

I was really excited when I came across the article "How to Use Digital Storytelling in Your Classroom" by Jennifer New. This article gave me an insight about the digital storytelling assignment that is due at the end of the EDU 653 class. The seven steps/ideas helped to make it clear to me the importance of keeping students involved, engaged, and excited in the learning process. One of the steps states "See technology as a tool not a goal." I think that this concept is something of great importance in the classroom.
With technology on the rise, many teachers use the technology just to say that it is being used instead of making sure that is it being used effectively. Technology should not be a goal because it has to be used, but rather a way of helping students to better understand an idea or concept.
Other steps include "learn by trial and error" and "allow your students to push (and lead) you." Both of these ideas are sometimes hard for teachers to adjust to. Many teachers and students feel as if they need to have all of the answers, but I find that there is a great deal of importance and accomplishment of failing and being able to figure it out together with your students. The thing that many of us forget is that technology is something of our students generation. Oftentimes students are able to show me how to do something in relation to technology and they are excited about being able to teach the teacher something.
This article got me excited to start working on our digital storytelling assignment and to see the way that my students will react to this new form of technology we are integrating into the classroom.