Digital storytelling, in my opinion, is amazing. I saw a VoiceThread that utilized a map of the world and everyone who commented was able to circle their location. How cool is that? I think that the challenge for elementary school teachers is to keep kids interested in what they are learning, and what are they interested the most in? Technology of course!
Let them study technology in its every implication. How does texting work? IM? How were computers invented? All these things can be found in videos on the web or virtual magazines or other Internet-based research.

The possibilities to utilize technologies such as VoiceThread, SlideShare and SlideCasts are endless. These presentations students create can transcend all the TEKS, including language arts, social studies, sciene and technology. Students can create VoiceThread presentations to help each other with mathematical formulas, explain theories and present their creative work. I would love to see students come up with videos and be able to post them and share with each other.

In regards to my unit plan, the usefulness lies in the name. The unit is all about technology, and what better way to explore the topic than with the use of technology! Not only can they use their imaginations to answer the unit questions, they can use technology to share that information with their peers.