Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Composition Tools
In Brianna's comment from last week she asked about the tools and software needed to create a digital story so I thought I would include information on this for this week's post. The Digital Storytelling link which I provided last week has an FAQ section that addresses this issue and can be found at http://electronicportfolios.org/digistory/tools.html. This page gives a list of audio, image, and video editors (if you intend to include video) and lists them according to cost and ease-of-use. Software requirements for Microsoft OS X and Windows XP are provided. Some of the image editors can get quite pricey. Needed harware includes a microphone and mixer or a USB microphone (which can range from $90 to $170 or more depending on brand specifications). You would also need a digital camera or scanner and a digital video camera (again, only if you plan to include video in your digital story). Depending on a school's budget and the tools they may already have in place, this could be a great investment. Would you, as a TL, argue to spend the money to make digital storytelling capability part of your library?
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3 comments:
Elise,
You ask a great question about whether or not I as a TL would invest for the ability to be able to do digital storytelling. As with most other hypothetical scenarios, it's hard to know enough details to really answer.
Obviously, I would not shortchange the "basics" of the library to make this happen -- and if there were other initiatives that the teachers were more interested in and more likely to use, it would be hard to make the case for digital storytelling.
That being said, I do think there is a LOT of potential for hooking kids in using digital storytelling, and (if I had some discretionary funds), I can certainly imagine trying to get teachers behind this idea and buying the equipment. I really do think that some kids (who might not normally be attracted to the library) could get pulled in by digital storytelling -- and that would be great to capitalize upon.
How's THAT for a very wishy-washy answer?
Natalie,
I know the question can't really be answered until we're in an actual library with an actual budget. I just wondered whether or not this was something you all would find valuable enough to consider including and using in your "libraries" or if it seemed not worth the time and trouble. I'm with you on this. I wouldn't sacrifice other important aspects of the library, but if the money and opportunity were there, I would love to have digital storytelling capability in my (hypothetical) library.
I think this would be worthwhile. Audacity is free in itself, and the video editors seems reasonable.
I think the tools could also be justified more if they can carry over into other projects.Digital storytelling is just one of several things students could use these tools for.
I watched kids at a middle school learn how to create podcasts of their reports using Audacity.
Another school library uses this to make podcasts of students giving booktalks that she puts on the website. Thus the audio equipment could have more uses and I think it is possible that the video and image editors would do the same.
Just an idea to help justify the cost.
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