Digital Storytelling with Photostory Pam Shoemaker Walled Lake Schools Technology Integration Coordinator STAR Discovery Educator Michigan DEN Blog Coordinator MACUL Elementary Educators Communications Officer One-to-One Institute Digital Coach

Agenda What is digital storytelling? Equipment and Software Needed How to use Photostory to create a digital story Create your own (mini) digital story!

Digital Storytelling Digital Storytelling is the practice of using computer-based tools to tell stories. It’s all about literacy; the technology comes secondary to the writing

Media Digital storytelling uses many types of media: ◦ Scanned drawings/pictures ◦ Digital video clips ◦ Text ◦ Digital or scanned photos ◦ Voice narration ◦ Music ◦ Titles ◦ Transitions The author chooses what media to use and how the media will be arranged.

The Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling 1. Point of View 2. A Dramatic Question 3. Emotional Content 4. The Gift of Your Voice 5. The Power of Soundtrack 6. Economy 7. Pacing

Element 1: Point of View All stories are told to make a point. You, as the author, need to figure out what you intend the viewer to “get.” What message are you trying to convey?

Element 2: A Dramatic Question A good story has a “hook” that will hold the attention of the audience until the story is over.

Element 3: Emotional Content A story that deals with our emotions, such as loss, love, loneliness, courage, acceptance, rejection, hardship, etc. - will help the audience maintain their attention.

Element 4: The Gift of Your Voice The way you use your voice can impact the story you tell. ◦ Tone of Voice: Slow, Fast, Loud, Soft The tone of the storyteller’s voice provides the drama and sets the mood, while engaging the reader. It draws the reader into the plot development through the use of story elements.

Element 5: The Power of Soundtrack Music sets the mood. The goal is to match the music to the story. Instrumental music, without words, works the best to create an appropriate mood. The focus should be the narration and the music should support and enhance the storytelling. Use only copyright-free music! (try freeplaymusic.com)

Element 6: Economy Use the least amount of images required to tell the story. Your selection of pictures and drawings should illustrate the theme without becoming a distraction. Too many images tend to confuse the audience.

Element 7: Pacing Changing the pace of the story can be very effective. The narrative can have pauses, the music can change tempo, and the images can be set to enter at different rates of speed. Changing pace allows the audience to concentrate, think, and maintain interest.

Jason Ohler running a MACUL all-day preconference session on March 18! Visual Portrait of a Story

Equipment & Software Needed Photostory3 (free download from Microsoft) Microphone Digital camera (optional) Scanner (if needed)

Demonstration Save DiscoveryStreaming Images Import images into Photostory Add voice narration Add transitions and special effects Add music Save as a video file

Additional Resources tory.html tory.html