Journal 4

Storytelling in the Web 2.0 Era.
Glen Bull.

This is an article discussing many new exciting and free Web tools available for educators’ use in the classroom. The author focuses on storytelling tools. Students can use a huge variety of Web tools to create, illustrate, and put sound, video and animation to their stories. Using Xtimeline in a social studies class can help students make timelines and learn how to place a story in chronological order. The author refers to the facts that most school budgets have limited dollars to spend on software. In this Web 2.0 era, schools can access an amazing amount of software at no cost.

1. What would be the benefits of using free Web tools for storytelling?
The benefits of using Web tools for storytelling would primarily be student interest. Students enjoy “playing” on the computer and creating. Creating a story and putting sound and animation to the story they have created would challenge their minds and they would have a great time doing it. The author of this article refers to The National Reading Panel, which states they see a possibility of enhanced comprehension as a result of using these storytelling techniques.

2. What should educators beware of when using these Web tools?Educators should always have objectives and guidelines ready to explain to students before using any Web-based tool. The use of objectionable language and inappropriate creations should be dealt with up-front and the consequences be made clear to students. Educators should also monitor the students’ work.