Using Digital Storytelling to Develop Reflective

Educators

Doyin Coker-Kolo, PhDMillersville University of

Pennsylvania Dr. Bonita Friend-Williams

Dr. Paulina KuforijiColumbus State University

15th Georgia Conference On College & University Teaching

Kennesaw, GeorgiaFebruary 15, 2008

Introduction• This session will highlight:

– Reflection as a valuable self-assessment tool for educators

– Writing as an effective means of capturing such reflection

– Digital storytelling as a unique way to extend writing process

– Resources and ideas for using digital storytelling for professional development

• Introduction: Share a story to begin (digitized?)

• Metaphor Reflective Activity• Attributes of a Reflective Educator• Definition of Digital Storytelling• Attributes of Digital Storytelling• Tools and Free Online Resources for

Creating a Digital Story Educational Uses of Questions and Answers

Table of Contents

Quote of the Day

• “Experience is not the greatest teacher, it is the reflection on the experience that constitutes effective teaching” (Osterman & Kottcamp, 2004)

Starting with the basics..

• What is reflective practice?• Who is a reflective educator?• What are the attributes of a

reflective educator?• What are the levels of

reflection and their benefits?• What do teachers reflect upon?

(INTASC standards)

Reflective Practice

• Reflection: an inquiry-based thinking process in which teachers engage in systematic, rigorous, and disciplined thinking about their professional practice.

• Reflective practice: involves thinking about and critically analyzing one's actions with the goal of improving one's professional practice (Imel, 1992)

Attributes of a Reflective Educator

• Reflects on and learns from experience

• Engages in on-going inquiry • Solicits feedback• Assumes responsibility for own

learning• Open to alternative perspectives• Perpetual problem solver

Attributes of a Reflective Educator continued

• Takes action to align new knowledge and understanding

• Observes self in the process of thinking

• Is committed to continuous improvement in practice

• Strives to align behaviors with values and beliefs

• Seeks to discover what is true

Reflective Vs. Non-Reflective Teachers

• Engages in thoughtful reconsideration of all occurrences within their classroom

• Is a change agent• Recognizes

dilemmas• Student centered• Empowered• Creative; explores

alternatives

• Is Narrow-minded• Reactive;• Enforce

predetermined standards of operations

• Avoid dilemmas• Teacher centered• Lacks control of

the classroom• Slave to tradition

Levels of Reflection

– Surface Reflection– Pedagogical– Critical Reflection– Self Reflection (Cooper & Larivee,

2006)

• Schon (1987) Reflection “in” and “on” action

• Kottkamp: “offline” and “on-line” reflection

Presentation Outline

• Introductory Activity (A teacher is…)

• Storytelling as Art and Science• Writing Process• Digital Storytelling• Examples of digital stories• Resources• Question and Answer

A teacher is like…

Complete the metaphor to reflect your thoughts , philosophy, and image of

what a teacher is like (or should be like)

Example 1:A teacher is like a song creating memories

and bringing comfort when you hear it.

A teacher is like…

Example 2:A teacher is like a caterpillar because

you are continually stretching out and pulling back. It’s pretty stressful if you try to be stretched out all the time, so you have to remember to pull back. But if you always pull back, you go nowhere.

Stories

We are our stories. We compress years of experience, thoughts, and emotion into a few compact narratives that we convey to others and tell to ourselves. That has always been true.

Daniel H. PinkA Whole New Mind

Storytelling

Storytelling is part of a rich oral tradition that has been captured in print and has the potential for further enhancement through technology.

Stories help children and adults to share experiences and feelings in an engaging and entertaining way.

Storytelling

• As Stephen Denning explains: "Stories are immediate and unique. Storytelling brings people together in a common perspective, and stretches everyone's capacity to empathize with others and share experience". The advantages of this type of narrative permeate our culture, creating social practices and human relations that help constitute reality, yet its role in the education and learning process of our children is especially important.

Writing Stories

Storytelling, whether oral, written, or digital, is both art

and science.The “science” of storytelling

involves a process that can assist the most competent and

the most unskilled writer in improving the final story

product.

Writing Process

•Pre-writing•Drafting•Revising•Editing•Publishing

Pre-writing

• Write on topics based on personal experiences.

• Engage in rehearsal activities before writing.

• Identify the audience who will read the finished product.

• Identify the purpose for the writing activity.

• Choose an appropriate form for the composition based on audience and purpose.

Drafting and Revising

• Write a rough draft.• Emphasize content rather than

mechanics.• Reread the composition.• Share writing (peer or group review)• Participate constructively in the review

process for own writing and that of peer or group members

• Make changes to reflect reactions and comments from others.

Editing and Publishing

• Proofread.• Identify and correct mechanical errors.• Meet with peer or teacher for final

editing.

• Publish writing in the appropriate form.• Share the finished writing with an

appropriate audience.

Expanding Writing Process

• From the finished story, students create a story board using Microsoft WORD

• Pictures and narration are the two essential parts of the story board.

• Using one of the on-line digital storytelling tools (photostory, for example), students create their digital stories by synchronizing pictures and narration.

Expanding Writing Process

• Writing A Script• A digital story allows an author to capture the essence of

an experience with visual images and sounds. However, the script remains the backbone of the story. The narrative behind and between the images and sounds is critical to how the audience will interpret and feel about your story. So, spend time writing, revising, and editing your script. To produce a digital story that is 2 to 3 minutes in length, you’ll need a script between 1.5 and 2 pages, double-spaced.

• Consider these five questions when developing your script:• What should I write about? Thinking of an idea • How do I start? Developing the Lead • What is the main point? Developing a Thesis Statement • How do I end my story? Developing a Conclusion • How do I keep my audience's interest? Revising and Editing

What is Digital Storytelling?

• Definition– Digital Storytelling is the modern

expression of the ancient art of storytelling. Digital stories derive their power by weaving images, music, narrative and voice together, thereby giving deep dimension and vivid color to characters, situations, experiences, and insights.

– - Leslie Rule, Digital Storytelling Association

What is Digital Storytelling?

• Definition– There are many different definitions

of "digital storytelling," but in general, all of them revolve around the idea of combining the longstanding art of telling stories with any of a variety of available multimedia tools, including graphics, audio, video animation, and Web publishing.

What is Digital Storytelling?

• DefinitionDigital storytelling as described by

the Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS) in Berkeley, California

“integrates existing photographs, music, home video, and voice into brief (2-5 minute) video pieces”

Why Create Digital Stories?

– Promotes the writing process (narrative story)

– Delivers a cross curricular project– Addresses a variety of technology

skills– Motivates students– It makes learning to be relevant,

meaningful, and applicable.

Elements of Digital Storytelling

• Overall Purpose of the Story• Narrator’s Point of View -Who is the

narrator and why is he/she talking to us?

• A Dramatic Question or (Questions) - Desire – Action - Realization

• Choice of Content• Clarity of Voice - What does your

narrator sound like? • Pacing of the Narrative - The rhythm

of the story helps set the tone

•

Elements of Digital Storytelling

• Emotional Content – What are the emotions associated with your narrative? Meaningful Soundtrack - What music sets the mood for your story?

• Quality of the Images• Economy of the Story Detail - Keep it

short and succinct. • Good Grammar and Language Usage

•

Digital Storytelling Tools

• Digital Storytelling Software:– iMovie on the Mac (free)

PhotoStory: XP and above (free). – MovieMaker for PC’s (free). – PowerPoint– HyperStudio – Adobe Premiere Elements, Picasso Software– ULead VideoStudio– Pinnacle Studio, – Final Cut Pro or Express, etc. are big steps up in

price and power.– Audacity for audio

Digital Storytelling Resources

• Free clipart, photos, backgrounds, music & sounds– http://office.microsoft.com/

clipart/default.aspx– http://www.pics4learning.com/– MS Windows Media Player 10– Required for Photo Story 3– www.microsoft.com\downloads

Steps in Digital Story Telling

• Preparation– Define the purpose of the project.– Align projects goals and objectives

with local curriculum and tech standards.

– Create a storyboard mapping out the flow of content.

– Collect and store media (images, music, etc.) in a centralized location.

Steps in Digital Story Telling

• Preparation– Digital Camera– Copyright Issues

• http://www.pics4learning.com/

Steps in Digital Story Telling

• Development– Compose and edit the narration.– Edit media to better adapt to the storyboard.– Arrange the media to follow the storyboard.– Edit images and upload.

• Record Narrations.– Practice reading aloud– Narrate with a microphone– Review recording– Edit and re-record if necessary– Review final narration

– Keep it simple

Digital Storytelling Tools

• Photo Story 3• • Digital Storytelling• • URL:

http://www.microsoft.com/

Photo Story 3

• PhotoStory 3 Tutorial– http://www.jakesonline.org/

photostory.pdf– http://www.coe.uh.edu/digital-

storytelling/gettingstarted.htm

Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling

• Digital Stories as Personal Narratives– Personal Reflection

– Personal Development • Examples from Across the Curriculum

– Response to literature– Character study– Historical account– Lab report– Class trip– Parent night

• http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/6/cu11.html• http://electronicportfolios.org/digistory/• http://its.ksbe.edu/dst/• http://www.teachingteachers.com/index.htm• http://members.shaw.ca/dbrear/dst.html• http://electronicportfolios.com/digistory/index.htm• http://www.techlearning.com/shared/printableArticle.php?

articleID=174401140• http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/storytelling/

classroom.html• http://www.comminit.com/en/node/209938• http://www.lubbockisd.org/sfirenza/storytelling/• http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/digital_storytelling/

category/software/• http://cnets.iste.org/currstands/

References

• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx

• http://www.coe.uh.edu/digitalstorytelling• www.storycenter.org/• http://rcwp.wikispaces.com/

MCTE+2007+Digital+Storytelling• http://www.edtech.neu.edu/interactive_tools/

digital_story_telling/writing_a_script/

• Schon, D. (1987). Educating the Reflective Practitioner. Josey-Bass Publishers. San Francisco.

• Larrivee, B.& Cooper, J., (2006). An Educator’s Guide to Teacher Reflection. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.

References