Volume I, Issue 33 (April 6, 2007)

PBS Digital Storytelling Contest
Dominic Butillo, a junior at Salisbury High School, was a recent winner in the PBS Channel 39 Digital Storytelling Contest. This project shows how students can develop and demonstrate new literacies as well as traditional literacies. Some of these new literacies include finding information within a vast, global digital library; evaluating the information to determine its value; and using that information to express ideas compellingly. Congratulations, Dominic! (And for his efforts he received an Olympus digital camera!)

Through this project, I have learned a lot. It started out as just an average project but it turned into a pretty cool assignment. I learned how to use a new program (PhotoStory) and how to apply those concepts to other assignments. I would definitely recommend this program to other people. I think it would be great in the classroom for students of any age. This program is not only good for stories, but I believe it could be used for informational purposes.

Even though I have been credited with the work, it would not be possible without some other people. The contest that my poem was entered into was found by Mr. Ziegenfuss. The person that helped the most with the original assignment and contest entry was Mrs. Stangherlin. Lastly, Mr. Smith, the computer technician at the high school, helped me to submit the contest entry and recheck it before it went out. He also gave me lots of help throughout the assignment.

Click here to view Dominic's digital story: Real Heroes.

Randy Ziegenfuss <rziegenfuss@stsd.org>
Chris Smith <csmith@stsd.org>