Posts

EDUC 5353 Week 1

       Hello! I'm Danna. I live in Royse City, Texas, with my husband and our four dogs. This school year is my 14th year in education. I have taught elementary and middle school , and I currently teach high school English and Humanities. This is my seventh class toward my Master's in Curriculum and Instruction, so I can see the finish line. I am looking forward to furthering my education and am eager to learn new things that can help my fellow teachers and me flourish in the classroom.        In my free time, I enjoy experimenting with new recipes, reading (currently reading The Housemaid by Freida McFadden), crafting, thrifting, and spending time with my family. I also very much like to travel and experience new cultures and customs.       I will be focusing on teachers in my community and within my school district for this class. When understanding and reflecting on the digital divide and how it affects students an...

EDUC 5333 Blog 5

1.   I have made significant progress in my digital story. My script is completed. When I read and shared my script, I ensured it followed a logical plot progression that engaged the reader. I also developed my characters through dialogue and imagery.  Currently, I am working on putting the script with the video and audio. The story table was a helpful tool in arranging all of my ideas; I am creating or finding specific images that will enhance my digital story’s visual appearance. I have created and added most elements of my digital story, and I only have a few minor adjustments until I feel that it is ready to publish. I do not believe that I need assistance with anything. I will review completed digital stories to compare how mine looks to others to ensure I am on the right track before I am ready for publishing and presenting.  2. After reviewing the current resources, I am going with Canva. Canva is accessible and I am familiar with how to use and impleme...

EDUC 5333 Blog 3

  The story I plan to explore is that of my first Thanksgiving during my first semester in college. I had never really traveled or experienced other customs and culture and had no idea how unique my family was until I brought my friend Amanda home with me from college. She was from California and was somewhat shocked but courteous of my family's traditions. Until then I truly never knew that I grew up differently than others. I was never immersed in diverse cultures or traditions. This moment helped me have two revelations. I need to see the world and learn about people and their customs, and I am proud of where I come from.  The plot and characters include my father's family, my college friend Amanda, and me. I will take the reader through the events of my family's Thanksgiving meal and the chaos that usually ensues and ends with the realization that other families are not like mine but can still be celebrated for their customs even when they are different from others.  ...

EDUC 5333 Blog 2

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  PART 1- I chose PinePoint by the National Film Board Canada to review. I was in awe of this story. I have not experienced storytelling in this manner before. It was incredibly engaging and interactive and kept me hooked the whole time I was reading and listening. The author made many effective choices to engage the reader, including graphics, videos, the use of a variety of colors, and music. The music and sound effects enhanced the telling of the story by creating a believable and nostalgic mood while also emphasizing the emotional impact of the author's story. This story was incredibly interactive for the viewer. The author included clickable graphics and animations, which made it easy for the viewer to navigate the page and provided the reader with a first-person account through the author's eyes as to how important this town is to him.  PART 2- The creation of this digital story adds educational value by demonstrating to students how they can use their technological ...

EDUC 5333 Week 1 Blog

     Hello! My name is Danna Dougan. I graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2012 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. I have taught many grade levels throughout the years, including elementary and middle school. I am currently teaching 9th-grade English and Humanities. I currently serve as a curriculum lead and as a member on the advanced academic committee at my school. I am currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Educational Technology from Southeastern Oklahoma University.  In my free time I enjoy reading, thrifting, spending time with my family and dogs, watching football, and traveling.      After reviewing several of the articles provided and browsing multiple digital storytelling platforms, I concluded that allowing students to tell their stories digitally can significantly impact their overall engagement, creativity, and digital literacy. Popular social media platforms lik...