Innovation Institute 2019

How can digital storytelling in an elementary school library (grades 3 and 4) enhance engagement in writing as well as the motivation and ability to create higher quality writing? In particular, what happens as students move beyond the novelty or entertainment effect of new technology to adoption in their regular literacy activities? This presentation focuses on three programs Hatch, Bloxels, and Story Maker.

Hatch is an adaptation of Scratch programming. Hatch is an amazing way to incorporate computational thinking while supporting digital storytelling.

Using Scratch as a digital storytelling tool, students can:
Create poetry
Create short stories related to a piece of literature
Create and/or illustrate a math problem
Research and report about a career
Research and report about a historical figure, scientist, etc.
Illustrate a current event

Bloxels is an intuitive platform for creating video games in a classroom. When students build games, they become the writers, artists, designers, and developers of their own interactive stories.

Story Maker is an animated program. Story Maker transforms classrooms into animation studios which gives students the tools to write and produce original animated stories. Each Story Maker project is designed to promote literacy, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and other vital 21st century skills. Best of all, students take pride in creating animated stories they can share with the world.