1. Creating Digital Stories
OVERVIEW

2. 10 Steps Steps correspond to class handout
How to create a polished, powerful digital story
FOLLOW ALONG IN YOUR HANDOUT, HIGHLIGHT RELEVANT PASSAGES
AND ADD NOTES IN THE MARGINS FOR REMINDERS

3. Step 1: Decide on the story you want to tell
General Points
Types of Stories
Don’t try to tell everything about the media experience
Choose the details that best tell the story
Think about creating a 3-5 minute work that recounts a specific moment in time.
The shorter the time period, the easier it will be to create
A time media had an impact on you
Changed you
Provided role models
Difficult “mature” content
Made you feel jealous, angry, aggressive, or changed your views
Exposed you to new ideas
When you used media for a negative reason or when it was used against you
Encouraged bad choices
Made you dependent

4. Step 2: Gather your materials
Even though this is listed as the 2nd step, it is actually an on-going step you will work on throughout the process. Don’t try to gather all of the material at once, but do consider what materials will work with each section of your project.
Items to consider using:
Old photos
Vintage film reels
Digital video
Flyers
Mementos
New footage

5. Step 3: Write your script
Start by jotting down ideas through the brainstorming process – this can be an outline, graphic organizer or a simple list
Don’t overwrite – it should sound like you sound when you speak to your friends (minus profanity and other class-inappropriate material… haha!)
Get personal and tell it from your point of view and make it emotional
Don’t try to edit as you draft; Just get ideas down at first
Think about a narrative arc: beginning, middle and end
Consider pacing: sometimes it should move quickly; other times it needs to slow down or pause momentarily

6. Step 4: Prep your equipment
What software will you use?
Movie Maker on school computers
Is there a learning curve involved or have you used it before?
You can also bring a laptop from home if you choose
Do you need to digitize photos via scanning?
Can you upload materials to One Drive or use the Virtual Desktop to access them at school?
Will you need a camera?
Do you have access to internet?

7. Step 5: Create a storyboard
This is where you will plot out the sequence of your story
Decide on the order of images
Decide on transitions
Decide what background music to use
Decide what you will say over each image based upon your script

8. Step 6: Digitize your media
Get all phots scanned if they are paper copies
Make sure your digital media are in the proper format for your software
Do you need to convert video footage to the appropriate file format?
Do you need to edit down video footage to smaller sections to insert into your digital story?

9. Step 7: Record voiceover
Based on your storyboard, record each section of your voiceover separately
That will make it easier to edit together later
Speak slowly, clearly and loudly
The biggest problem is speaking so softly that you can’t be understood
You can use your cell phone voice recorder to get good recordings
Remember to only record in a place that has no background noise
Background noise WILL be heard in your voiceover

10. Step 8: Prepare to Build the Project
Make a project folder in your network files
ALL materials to be used in your project MUST be put into that folder
Failure to put materials in the folder at the start of the process might cause problems later

11. Step 9: Find and add background music
Adjust the volume to be under your narration
Choice of music should be appropriate to the mood of your narrative – music that does not fit the mood is very noticeable
Music must be instrumental – lyrics confuse the audience because they have to listen to two narrative lines at the same time

12. Step 10: Edit your story Create a rough cut Add transitions and titles
Import images and video into the program you are using and add them to the timeline
Make sure all material is in the correct order on the timeline
Add transitions and titles
Add narration and background music
Make sure music in in background and does not overpower your narration
BE SURE TO VIEW AND LISTEN TO ENTIRE PROJECT FILE BEFORE RENDERING SO YOU CAN FIND ANY PROBLEMS

13. Step 11: Finalize and share your story
BE SURE TO VIEW AND LISTEN TO ENTIRE PROJECT FILE BEFORE RENDERING SO YOU CAN FIND ANY PROBLEMS
Project must be ALWAYS rendered into a video clip as the final form
The project file cannot be used by others
You will turn in the finalized video file
The file name will be your last name followed by your hour
Rubric must also be turned in with video
Your video may be chosen to be viewed by the class