Digital Storytelling Trends/Issues in Technology

What are Digital Stories?  Stories that are told through the use of digital tools  Focus on a specific topic or point of view  Vary in length (most often 2-10 minutes)  Can be used for any topic (history, personal narrative, math, retelling a story, etc.)

Contain a mixture of:  Computer-based images  Text  Recorded audio narration  Video clips  Music

7 Elements of Story Telling  Find your story. (what will get your point across best)  Map your story. (how do you want to tell it)  Capture your audience’s attention right away, and keep it. (ex. Dramatic question)  Tell your story from your unique point of view. (don’t overload with information, just say important parts)  Use fresh and vivid language (be clear and specific)  Integrate emotion – yours and the audience’s. (create a tone and keep with it)  Use your own voice, in the script and in the audio. (be sure to pace yourself)

How Can I Use Digital Stories in my Classroom? Teacher Created Uses  Pre-teaching vocabulary  Building background knowledge  Reviewing newly learned concepts  Assessing student learning  Assessing student technological skill development  Retelling a story for ESL learner Student Created Uses  Demonstrating learned content  Retelling information  Sharing student work  Executing technological skills  Creating original products

Benefits of Digital Storytelling  Encourages research  Fosters critical thinking skills  Encourages students to write and to work at becoming better writers  Gives students a voice  Tells a personal narrative  Helps students retain knowledge longer  Enhances learning by encouraging students to communicate effectively  Helps students make a connection  Encourages creativity  Works well with portfolio assessment  Promotes digital literacy

Example Long Vowel Sounds by Ms. Inabinet’s First Grade Class

Example Don’t Laugh at Me by Hope C.

Helpful Sites  Little Bird Tales – Allows pictures to be loaded along with words and audio; user friendly; available on the app store Little Bird Tales  Microsoft Word | Learning Guides – Great guides available for teachers along with rubrics and templates Microsoft Word | Learning Guides  Digital Storytelling with the iPad – Apps for storytelling (all-in-one, storyboarding/layout, scripting/writing, images, and audio) Digital Storytelling with the iPad  Discovery Education – Provides a description, rubrics and storyboards, examples, and tools and resources Discovery Education  Voice Thread – Add images, video, and audio to build a story Voice Thread  Voice Thread For Education Wiki – Support of teachers on how to use voice thread; separated by grades Voice Thread For Education Wiki

Lesson Plans  Digital Wish – A long list of lesson plans from grade K-12 using digital storytelling Digital Wish  Unit Plan – A week long unit plan using digital storytelling by having students create a story Unit Plan  Scholastic – A lesson plan of sharing culture through digital storytelling Scholastic  Digital Storytelling Worksheet – A Microsoft Word document that is a prepared worksheet for students to write out the different parts that need to be in a digital storytelling Digital Storytelling Worksheet

References  Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling Includes: Examples, Software, Essentials, Create, Evaluate, Web 2.0 & Links Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling  Microsoft in Education | Teaching Guides Digital storytelling in the classroom Includes: Rubrics, templates, and guides Digital storytelling in the classroom  Example Digital Storytelling Scott County Student Digital Stories Scott County Student Digital Stories