Once Upon a Time:Digital Stories Using digital story telling to empower students. Susan Zimlich University of Alabama My Two Cents: Creating Meaningful Digital Stories Susan Zimlich University of Alabama Fall 2009

What is a digital story? a grassroots effort to help people create multimedia presentations to tell their own real life stories a grassroots effort to help people create multimedia presentations to tell their own real life stories o Lasts 3-5 minutes o Uses audio narration and music, pictures, and sometimes text o Often has a message

Features of Creating Digital Stories Multiple Intelligences Used Multiple Intelligences Used o Linguistic o Musical o Visual o Interpersonal o Intrapersonal Authentic o Audience o Product Curriculum Areas o Language Arts o Technology o Affective/ Character building/ Counseling

Technology Requirements Movie Software: Windows Movie Maker Windows Movie Maker Photostory Photostory Hardware: Microphone Microphone Scanner Scanner Software: Free downloads or Microsoft software Free downloads or Microsoft software

Steps To Story Creation 1. Brainstorm Ideas 2. Draft narrative 3. Collect pictures 4. Practice recording 5. Begin creating movie 6. Find music 7. Peer Editing 8. Host a screening

Steps To Story Creation: Brainstorm Ideas Have students list "events/issues/incidents/characteristics" in their lives Have students list "events/issues/incidents/characteristics" in their lives Discuss as a group the possibilities of each idea Discuss as a group the possibilities of each idea Have the students decide which ideas have the most potential Have the students decide which ideas have the most potential o Which one seems the most interesting to the "audience"? o Which one does the author care about most? Have them start drafting ideas Have them start drafting ideas

Steps To Story Creation: Draft narrative Have students write sponanteously Have students write sponanteously o See "what" comes out o Where does the description or story lead? o What develops? Narrative length should be about one single spaced, typed page Narrative length should be about one single spaced, typed page Authors should read and edit Authors should read and edit Peer groups should read/listen and respectfully comment Peer groups should read/listen and respectfully comment Make multiple drafts (you may do more editing after recording the narration) Make multiple drafts (you may do more editing after recording the narration)

Focusing Questions What do you want to say? What do you want to say? Who do you want to say it to? Who do you want to say it to?

Steps To Story Creation: Collect pictures Three possible picture types Three possible picture types o Scanned in pictures o Current digital pictures o Copyright free photos  Sources of copyright freeimages   us/clipart/default.aspx  us/clipart/default.aspx  Google "copyright free" photos/images (read carefully)

Steps To Story Creation: Practice recording It needs to be in their voices It needs to be in their voices Read for fluent recording Read for fluent recording Decide where to pause or emphasize words Decide where to pause or emphasize words Get used to the sound of your voice Get used to the sound of your voice Start story-boarding Start story-boarding o Think about repetition of pictures o Think about possibly using text o On the "final" recording start marking timing on pictures

Steps To Story Creation: Begin creating movie 1. Import the pictures 2. Place the narration 3. Experiment with text (i.e., title, dedication at the end, any words that might appear during the movie) 4. Put in transitions or movement 5. Watch the movie! Watch it on the largest screen possible! 6. Change timing of the pictures 7. Edit and edit and edit

Steps To Story Creation: Find music Will there be music? Will there be music? What kind of music? What kind of music? You may need to use alternate audio software You may need to use alternate audio software Sources of audio software Sources of audio software o Audacity o Movie Maker o (Real Player) Sources of free music Sources of free music o o Google copyright/royalty free

Steps To Story Creation: Peer Editing Peers should RESPECTFULLY comment Peers should RESPECTFULLY comment Consider Consider o What should be emphasized more o How did it look o How did it make you feel Talk about Talk about o Author's voice o Intended audience Watch it on the largest screen possible Watch it on the largest screen possible Be sure to keep files with unfinished products Be sure to keep files with unfinished products

Steps To Story Creation: Host a screening Advertize Advertize Send invitations to important people Send invitations to important people Double check the format the movies need to be in (thumb drive, CD-Rom, DVDR) Double check the format the movies need to be in (thumb drive, CD-Rom, DVDR) Allow for discussion afterwards Allow for discussion afterwards Find other ways to share the films Find other ways to share the films

10 Possible Ways to Use Digital Stories with Students 1. To empower students 2. To help students realize change 3. To address anxiety 4. To highlight social issues 5. To create reflection 6. To encourage metacognition 7. To create community 8. To teach about important people 9. To create service learning 10. To preserve story telling...and more...and more

If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. —Barry Lopez

Acknowledgments Dr. Heather Pleasants at The University of Alabama (and my fellow BER673 students) Dr. Heather Pleasants at The University of Alabama (and my fellow BER673 students) The Center for Digital Story Telling The Center for Digital Story Telling Stories for Change Stories for Change Media that Matters Media that Matters Dr. Margaret Rice and the AIL605 students at The University of Alabama Dr. Margaret Rice and the AIL605 students at The University of Alabama Dr. Catherina de Wet for ideas! Dr. Catherina de Wet for ideas!