Innovating with Purpose: Discovering the True Value of Technology
Delving into the transformative potential of technology when used with a purpose-driven approach.
In a world increasingly focused on the role of technology in students' development, it is essential to emphasize that technology is merely a tool, and the story it tells is more critical than the medium itself.
I am delighted to share my first article on this platform, where I will be offering advice on the best practices for introducing multimedia tools to facilitate storytelling in the classroom with students. Through this article, I hope to provide valuable insights and practical tips that educators can use to enhance their teaching and engage students in a dynamic learning experience.
I'm a storyteller and educator passionate about helping communities and youth thrive through inclusive multimedia storytelling. I spent the last 20 years of my life working aside community members and youth in Argentina, Spain and the U.S., creating and sharing stories to advance youth citizen participation and voice culturally diverse perspectives. I believe that our work as educators is to advance critical thinkers and cultivate active citizens as both consumers and creators.
While I believe that technology plays a critical role in achieving this goal, I also believe that the focus should be on the story itself rather than on the medium through which it is conveyed. After all, it is humans who tell stories, not the canvases they use. Technology should serve as a tool to enhance and enrich the storytelling experience, rather than overshadow it. Canvases don't tell stories, humans do.
To further illustrate my point, I've included a video below of a "Stop Motion Animation Workshop" that I developed in collaboration with Colectivo Piloto for the Museum of the Moving Image in New York City. This program introduced students to stop motion animation techniques, using the theme of the "United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child" as a guiding framework throughout the workshop. By connecting the technical aspects of animation with a meaningful theme, students were able to develop both their creative and critical thinking skills in a dynamic learning experience.
By connecting the technical aspects of animation with a meaningful theme, students were able to develop both their creative and critical thinking skills in a dynamic learning experience.
Through the use of a strong theme, students can learn how to leverage technology to express their unique perspective and develop their critical thinking skills around universal values. By participating in these programs, students are not only able to improve their vocabulary and decision-making abilities but also exercise their creativity in a fun and engaging way. The focus is on empowering students to master the use of technology as a tool to tell their own stories and explore the issues that matter to them most.
The Bottom Line
In a world that is increasingly focused on the role of technology in students' development, it is essential to emphasize that technology is merely a tool, and the story it tells is more critical than the medium itself.
By recognizing this fact, we can empower youth to play an active role in shaping global challenges and giving them a voice that will contribute to their growth and development. In other words, technology should be used as a means to an end, not an end in itself.
Purpose-driven Creativity in Action
The video below witnesses the creative process of students learning stop motion animation techniques, all while exploring the theme of the 'United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.' Through this powerful framework, students develop their critical thinking skills, activate their decision-making processes, and exercise their creativity in a playful way.
