Once Upon a Time:Digital Once Upon a Time:Digital StoriesStories

Using digital story telling to Using digital story telling to empower students.empower students.

Susan ZimlichUniversity of Alabama

My Two Cents: Creating Meaningful

Digital Stories

Susan ZimlichUniversity of AlabamaFall 2009

What is a digital story?What is a digital story?

• a grassroots effort to help people create multimedia a grassroots effort to help people create multimedia presentations to tell their own real life storiespresentations to tell their own real life stories

      

o Lasts 3-5 minutesLasts 3-5 minuteso Uses audio narration and music, pictures, and sometimes Uses audio narration and music, pictures, and sometimes

texttexto Often has a message Often has a message

Features of Creating Digital StoriesFeatures of Creating Digital Stories

• Multiple Multiple Intelligences UsedIntelligences UsedoLinguisticLinguisticoMusicalMusicaloVisualVisualo InterpersonalInterpersonalo IntrapersonalIntrapersonal

• AuthenticoAudienceoProduct

• Curriculum AreasoLanguage ArtsoTechnologyoAffective/

Character building/ Counseling

Technology RequirementsTechnology Requirements

Movie Software:Movie Software:• Windows Movie MakerWindows Movie Maker•   PhotostoryPhotostory  Hardware:Hardware:• MicrophoneMicrophone• Scanner Scanner   Software: Software: • Free downloads or Microsoft softwareFree downloads or Microsoft software

Steps To Story CreationSteps To Story Creation

1.1. Brainstorm IdeasBrainstorm Ideas2.2. Draft narrativeDraft narrative3.3. Collect picturesCollect pictures4.4. Practice recordingPractice recording5.5. Begin creating movieBegin creating movie6.6. Find musicFind music7.7. Peer EditingPeer Editing8.8. Host a screening Host a screening

Steps To Story Creation: Brainstorm Steps To Story Creation: Brainstorm IdeasIdeas• Have students list Have students list

"events/issues/incidents/characteristics" in their lives"events/issues/incidents/characteristics" in their lives• Discuss as a group the possibilities of each ideaDiscuss as a group the possibilities of each idea• Have the students decide which ideas have the most Have the students decide which ideas have the most

potentialpotentialo Which one seems the most interesting to the Which one seems the most interesting to the

"audience"?"audience"?o Which one does the author care about most?Which one does the author care about most?

• Have them start drafting ideasHave them start drafting ideas

Steps To Story Creation: Draft Steps To Story Creation: Draft narrative narrative •   Have students write sponanteouslyHave students write sponanteously

o See "what" comes outSee "what" comes outo Where does the description or story lead?Where does the description or story lead?o What develops?What develops?

• Narrative length should be about one single spaced, Narrative length should be about one single spaced, typed pagetyped page

• Authors should read and editAuthors should read and edit• Peer groups should read/listen and respectfully Peer groups should read/listen and respectfully

commentcomment• Make multiple drafts (you may do more editing after Make multiple drafts (you may do more editing after

recording the narration)recording the narration)

Focusing QuestionsFocusing 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 Steps To Story Creation: Collect picturespictures•   Three possible picture typesThree possible picture types

o Scanned in picturesScanned in pictureso Current digital picturesCurrent digital pictureso Copyright free photosCopyright free photos

Sources of copyright freeimagesSources of copyright freeimages www.morguefile.comwww.morguefile.com http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/

default.aspx default.aspx  Google "copyright free" photos/images (read Google "copyright free" photos/images (read

carefully) carefully)

Steps To Story Creation: Practice Steps To Story Creation: Practice recordingrecording•   It needs to be in their voicesIt needs to be in their voices•   Read for fluent recordingRead for fluent recording•   Decide where to pause or emphasize wordsDecide where to pause or emphasize words•   Get used to the sound of your voiceGet used to the sound of your voice•   Start story-boarding Start story-boarding 

o Think about repetition of picturesThink about repetition of pictureso Think about possibly using textThink about possibly using texto On the "final" recording start marking timing on On the "final" recording start marking timing on

picturespictures

Steps To Story Creation: Begin Steps To Story Creation: Begin creating moviecreating movie1.1.   Import the picturesImport the pictures2.2. Place the narrationPlace the narration3.3. Experiment with text (i.e., title, dedication at the end, Experiment with text (i.e., title, dedication at the end,

any words that might appear during the movie)any words that might appear during the movie)4.4. Put in transitions or movementPut in transitions or movement5.5. Watch the movie! Watch it on the largest screen Watch the movie! Watch it on the largest screen

possible!possible!6.6. Change timing of the picturesChange timing of the pictures7.7. Edit and edit and editEdit and edit and edit

Steps To Story Creation: Find musicSteps 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 softwareSources of audio software

o AudacityAudacityo Movie MakerMovie Makero http://www.real.com/ (Real Player)http://www.real.com/ (Real Player)

• Sources of free musicSources of free musico   http://freeplaymusic.com/http://freeplaymusic.com/o Google copyright/royalty free Google copyright/royalty free

Steps To Story Creation: Peer EditingSteps To Story Creation: Peer Editing

•   Peers should RESPECTFULLY commentPeers should RESPECTFULLY comment• ConsiderConsider

o What should be emphasized moreWhat should be emphasized moreo How did it lookHow did it looko How did it make you feelHow did it make you feel

• Talk aboutTalk abouto Author's voiceAuthor's voiceo Intended audienceIntended audience

• Watch it on the largest screen possibleWatch it on the largest screen possible• Be sure to keep files with unfinished productsBe sure to keep files with unfinished products

Steps To Story Creation: Host a Steps To Story Creation: Host a screeningscreening  • AdvertizeAdvertize• Send invitations to important peopleSend invitations to important people• Double check the format the movies need Double check the format the movies need

to be in (thumb drive, CD-Rom, DVDR)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 10 Possible Ways to Use Digital Stories with StudentsStories with Students1.1. To empower studentsTo empower students2.2. To help students realize changeTo help students realize change3.3. To address anxietyTo address anxiety4.4. To highlight social issuesTo highlight social issues5.5. To create reflectionTo create reflection6.6. To encourage metacognitionTo encourage metacognition7.7. To create communityTo create community8.8. To teach about important people To teach about important people 9.9. To create service learningTo create service learning10.10.   To preserve story tellingTo 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

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

• Dr. Heather Pleasants at The University of Alabama (and Dr. Heather Pleasants at The University of Alabama (and my fellow BER673 students)my fellow BER673 students)

• The Center for Digital Story TellingThe Center for Digital Story Telling• Stories for ChangeStories for Change• Media that MattersMedia that Matters• Dr. Margaret Rice and the AIL605 students at The Dr. Margaret Rice and the AIL605 students at The

University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama• Dr. Catherina de Wet for ideas!Dr. Catherina de Wet for ideas!