Gray, R.

Reflection
3.6 Selecting and Evaluating Digital Tools & Resources
Candidates collaborate with teachers and administrators to select and evaluate digital tools
and resources for accuracy, suitability, and compatibility with the school technology
infrastructure.

In my ITEC 7445 Multimedia and Web Design course, the Evaluating Emerging
Technologies Assessment (EETA) project was designed by me to evaluate an emerging
technology that supports the vision for technology use within my school. The goals of the school
improvement plan include decreasing the achievement gap of English Language Learners and
Students with Disabilities. It also includes increasing the graduation rate and literacy skills
among all students using technology. Therefore, this artifact supports the schools vision through
the use of Digital storytelling, which is an effective technology strategy that utilizes the
indicators of engage learning, adheres to the standards, implements multicultural pedagogy, and
increases academic achievement (Digital Storytelling, n.d.).
The Evaluating Emerging Technologies Assessment (EETA) project was an artifact that
demonstrates my ability to collaborate with teachers and administrators to select and evaluate
digital tools and resources for accuracy, suitability, and compatibility with the school technology
infrastructure. To identify the student learning problem, I consulted with school leaders and
teachers as well as reviewed the school improvement plan. It was determined that there was a
need to increase proficiency in literacy. It was also determined that technology would be used to
prepare our students for the workforce. Therefore, I determined that Digital storytelling was an
effective strategy in aiding students in increase literacy, critical thinking, communication,
collaboration, and creativity skills.
Digital storytelling is the art of using digital tools to tell stories using a mixture of
images, text, recorded audio narration, video clips, and/or music (Educational Uses of Digital

Gray, R.
Reflection
Storytelling, n.d). Through research, I discovered that when Digital storytelling is effectively
implemented, it can increase academic achievement (Roblyer & Edwards, 2013). In this artifact,
I was able to support the theory that Digital storytelling can aid teachers in differentiating
instruction, accommodate the Multiple Intelligences, and address the Indicators of Engaged
Learning. According to Brandie Trent (n.d), Digital storytelling also increases cultural
awareness as well as literacy, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity
skills. Digital storytelling also

Aids students in building connections with prior knowledge & improves memory.
Motivates and engages students through the use of language.
Provides access to a global audience.
Gives struggling readers and writers a voice.
Gives students validation by allowing them to have a voice.
This artifact includes an action plan that describes how integrating Digital storytelling

appears before, during, and after implementation. This plan includes the tools that will be used
to complete Digital narratives as well as a budget. To support this budget, I have included
potential sources of funding. In the plan, I have also included information on the Safe, Healthy,
Legal & Ethical Issues of implementing Digital storytelling and limitations that may occur as
well as researched-based and solutions to these issues. To further support the idea of
implementation, I described how Digital stories adhere to the content standards as wells as the
ISTE Standards.
After completing this artifact, I learned that when Evaluating Emerging Technologies, it
is important to have research that supports implementation. I believe that when you have concert
evidence of the effectiveness of emerging technology, it increases the chances of implementation.
According to Creighton (2003), the success of effective technology implementation depends on a

Gray, R.
Reflection
schools leadership, therefore, if I could improve this artifact, I would include how school leaders
can support the implementation of this artifact.
This artifact will impact school improvement because it meets the goal and vision of the
School, Cobb County Schools Vision for Technology, as well as address Common Core and the
NET-Standards. The impact of this artifact can be assessed through the use of assessment data.
Once data has been analyzed, we will identify strengths and weaknesses to determine the
necessary adjustments.

Gray, R.
Reflection
References
Creighton, T. B. (2003). The principal as technology leader. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Corwin Press.
Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling. (n.d.). Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling.
Retrieved July 13, 2014, from http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/index.cfm
Roblyer, M.D., & Doering, A. H. (2013).Integrating Educational Technology into
Teaching(6th Edition). Boston: Pearson.
Trent, B. (n.d.). Digital Storytelling: Promoting Literacy through Technology. Retrieved from
http://kentuckycouncilofteachersofenglish.wikispaces.com/Digital+Storytelling