Nuestro Mundo Latino

Ms. Rogers used a digital storytelling project in her Spanish II class to support both review and expansion of Spanish grammar and vocabulary, as well as students' written and oral proficiencies. With the guideline that the subjects of their stories should enhance their exposure to Spanish and Latino culture, students were allowed to select their own topics.

After the students conducted their research, they were encouraged to explore the use of various verb tenses (present, imperfect, preterit, gerund, past perfect) as they collaborated in pairs to create the scripts for their digital stories (short films). This process focused learning by facilitating student interaction with native Spanish-speakers of varying ages and backgrounds; increasing students' confidence in using language appropriate to particular social contexts; and, finally, helping students to function in Spanish with increasing ease.

After editing and refining their scripts, students sourced relevant digital imagery to illustrate specific details and perspectives concerning their chosen topics. Finally, they created titles, worked with transitions, chose music to set the appropriate tone, and experimented with special effects to complete their films.