Using Digital Storytelling to introduce RipMixLearners to Technology By Andre Daniels Digital Media co-ordinator Alice Wamundiya Shayna Adams Ebrehim Vasta

Context Digital Media supports academics & students with multimedia-related tasks RMLers Project started in 2008 as a student- driven approach to creating Open Content 2005 Introduction to Digital Storytelling

Challenges SA’s shortage of required skills Once off training have limited impact How to keep SA’s occupied when workload is sporadic How to create a Community of practice Keeping student’s motivated

Where did it all start? origins in the work of the nonprofit, Berkeley-based Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS) ( Amy Hill and Daniel Weinshencker from the Centre for Digital Storytelling HIV/ AIDS programme Technical Support

Workshop Process Story circle Script Voiceover/Narration Software training Final Export Screening & evaluation Post-production

Software Audacity Premiere /Moviemaker www, Scanning Audacity DVD authoring software Photoshop /GIMP

Hardware Computer/laptop Headsets Scanner Printer Flashdrives Paper and pen LCD projector & speakers Cameras/ cellphones

Why we use Digital Storytelling? Develops skills required to work within Digital Media environment We love telling stories Fun-aspect Helps the development of a community of practice Encourages transfer and sharing of skills Places the student at the centre of their own learning

Method 10 RMLers from various faculties Write stories of choice of about 500 words Develop scripts Stories no longer than 5 minutes Record individual narrations Regular feedback via and one –on one

Developing the script Students were asked to write a story of no longer than 500 words on a topic of their choice. Examples of Digital Stories were shown to students to give them an idea of what the finished product would look like. The stories were ed to me for editing and reworked into a short script. The focus would be on developing the technical skills which allowed greater freedom in forming their script.

Challenges of our method Can take longer than workshop format to complete Requires individual attention Some students are perfectionists… Language barrier Personal agendas “older” RMLers procrastinate more on tasks… motivation

Advantages of our method Skills transfer Ample time to gather personal photos Not as emotionally charged Good way of getting to know your students and each other. Encourages creativity Encourages a remix culture Students are motivating each other

Working with Journalism students 4 post-graduate students of Digital cultures course Provided technical support and advice 5 week course 1 – 2 hour contact time Were able to learn from students who were more adept with the technology. Students use productions as part of their portfolio

Post-production? Conversion and compression DVD authoring Uploading to RMLsite Contribute to e-portfolio Upload to Youtube Marketing tool Bragging rights

Advantages /pedagogical value e-literacy (File management, Internet browsing and downloading etc.) Visual-literacy (pace, timing, transitions etc.) Encourages a remix culture Produce new knowledge Gives “voice” Builds self-esteem Process/ workflow Analogue world to Digital ePortfolios

Considerations Use FOSS/proprietary software? Value for student first Time invested and training needed (fit for purpose) Final product ( how can it add value to teaching and learning in an environment of scarce resources) Submission formats Assessment (What assessment criteria will be used) Ethical considerations and ownership

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