Blog Post #4 - Digital Storytelling

 I don't have much experience in digital storytelling or other forms of multimodal composition. I have done some Flipgrid videos in previous classes, and I've used Canva and Visme. I actually made a virtual poster on Visme last semester for a creative writing course that I'm really proud of. It's a poem I wrote about a murder-suicide based off of a Vincent Van Gogh painting called "The Houses at Auvers." It also includes some true crime stories about family annihilators. Here's the link if anyone is interested:

https://my.visme.co/view/6xynqjdg-m3x58k3gxonm5krp

I really do like using infographics and I plan to incorporate them in my classroom. I especially like that they can be more than just a digital poster. You can add music, add moving images, and make it interactive. However, at this point I'm really interested in expanded my knowledge of multimodal composition and I'm really interested in creating a PSA. From the examples, I really like the "Congo Coltan War" PSA. I think it is really creative and informative, and the music alone is outstanding and really sets the mood for the video. I couldn't get the link to work for any podcasts, but I am really interesting in making one for the final assignment in this class. I also think the book trailers are pretty neat. I really like "The Kite Runner" book trailer. I might be a little partial to it because I've read the book and it's absolutely fantastic and book I think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime.

There's two videos that are really inspiring me as a future teacher. The first is from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, titled "The Danger of a Single Story." What I really like about this piece is that it reminds you that people are more than just one story, that there are multiple stories in their lives that make them who they are. It encourages you to see beyond color, ethnicity, religion, and actually get to know someone before you judge them. I think this is especially important for teachers as all student's are going to have different stories even if they have the same color skin or are from the same neighborhood even. Another video that is along the same lines as the single story is called "If She Only Knew Me." This video is inspiring to teachers to look at the needs of students and how a teacher should really get to know their students before making judgements. It's also a reminder that some kids really have a hard upbringing and school should be a safe haven for them. Teachers should be compassionate and actually care about their students. Take the time to get to know them, you might be the one person that makes them smile that day!

Adichie Video: https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

If She Only Knew Me Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bqYOksLRQM