By: Marwa Tounsi

 Storytelling is an ancient art form and a valuable form of human expression. It involves a two-way interaction between a storyteller and one or more listeners using language and action to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination. (Adapted from The Natinal story telling newtork website)

 Digital storytelling at its most basic core is the practice of using computer-based tools to tell stories. There are a wealth of other terms used to describe this practice, such as digital documentaries, computer-based narratives, digital essays, electronic memoirs, interactive storytelling, etc.; but in general, they all revolve around the idea of combining the art of telling stories with a variety of multimedia, including graphics, audio, video, and Web publishing. (The digital story telling association)

Digital stories Effective instructional tool for teachers Effective learning tool for students

 Effective Teaching Tool:  Presentation of abstract concepts.  Initating a controversial issue  Introducing grammar structures.  Authentic real-life situations.  Insights into different cultures and traditions.  Motivating and fun.

 Effective learning tool: Digital stories Creativity The four skills integrated Learners’ Autonomy Communication Skills CollaborationHOTS

 What’s more?

 When studens create their digital stories, they develop various skills, known as the 21st Century skills. 21st Century skills Digital literacy Global literacy Visual literacy Technology Literacy Information Literacy

 Steps for creating a digital story: 1. Generating ideas and write the script Free Personal experience Needs and interests Creativity Guided Visual prompts Draw and Tell Questions prompts

 Steps for creating a digital story: 2. Collecting visual images and music:

 Steps for creating a digital story: 3. Story boarding:

 Steps for creating a digital story: 4. Voice recording:

 Steps for creating a digital story: 5. Create:

 Steps for creating a digital story: 6. Share:  Youtube  The school blog  Facebook group  Nextvista.org  Learning village

 Recommended webtools:  Creaza- One of my favorite sites where you can create comics, make movies, edit audio, and more! Embed in a blog or wiki. GoAnimate- Choose from various characters, type in the dialogue, choose your background scene, and create a free fun movie. Creaza GoAnimate  ZimmerTwins- Choose from various characters, type in the dialogue, choose your background scene, and create a free fun movie. ZimmerTwins  Bubblr- create your comic strip with Flickr pictures and add bubbles to tell your story. Bubblr  Storybird-Students create beautiful stories by choosing beautiful art and adding the words. Embed in a blog or wiki. Storybird  Animoto- Upload up images, choose a soundtrack from the library (many nice holiday tunes to choose from, and click a button to make a free short video online and on your mobile device. Animoto

 Creative Commons Music and Images  Musicshake – Create copyright free music for your video. Compfight – Search Flickr photos for your videos. MorgueFile – Find free pictures for your videos. Free Music Archive, and Jamendo, and Royalty Free Music are all great places for free creative commons music! SoundBible - FreeSound – Free sound effects. Musicshake Compfight MorgueFile Free Music Archive Jamendo Royalty Free Music SoundBible FreeSound Flickr: Pics4Learning: Free Stock Images:

 Digital story telling apps: PosterousPosterous- With this app, learners can include a mix of text, photos, audio, and videos as well as tags and location information in a blog post. Share immediately on Facebook and Twitter! Even allow others to add to your posts (set this up through the web app vs. the mobile app). Free version available online as well as various mobile devices including the iPhone, iPod, Android, and Blackberry. AnimotoAnimoto- Upload up to 10 images, choose a soundtrack from the library (many nice holiday tunes to choose from, and click a button to make a 30-second video. Sync your videos with your Animoto.com account, download videos for offline viewing, and make longer ones with an All- Access Pass. Available on the iPad and iPod and Android. Create A Comic AppCreate A Comic App- free comic creation app for Android and i-devices. VideoliciousVideolicious- video creation in 3 easy steps