Digital Storytelling

Kim Yi and Jenny Lapple

The power of storytelling

History is nothing but a series of stories, whether it be world

history or family history.

Bill Mooney and David Holt, The Storyteller’s Guide

The power of storytelling

It takes a thousand voices to tell a single story.

Native American saying

The power of storytelling

Because there is a natural storytelling urge and ability in all human

beings, even just a little nurturing of this impulse can bring about

astonishing and delightful results. Nancy Mellon, The Art of Storytelling

What is a digital story?

• digital story (dig·i·tal sto·ry)– A short, first-person video-narrative

created by combining recorded voice, still and moving images, and music or other sounds. Digital storytelling uses new digital tools to help ordinary people tell their own ‘true stories.’

What is a digital story?

Elements of digital storytelling

• Point of view• Dramatic question• Emotional content• The gift of your voice• Soundtrack• Economy • Pacing

Elements of digital storytelling

• Point of viewWhat is the main point of the story and what is the

perspective of the author?

Elements of digital storytelling

• Dramatic questionA key question that keeps the viewer’s attention and will beanswered by the end of the story.

Elements of digital storytelling

• Emotional contentSerious issues that come alive in a personal and powerful way and connects the storyto the audience.

Elements of digital storytelling

• The gift of your voiceA way to personalize the story to help the audience understandthe context.

Elements of digital storytelling

• Soundtrack Music or other soundsthat support and embellishthe storyline.

Elements of digital storytelling

• EconomyUsing just enough content to tell the story

without overloading the viewer.

Elements of digital storytelling

• PacingThe rhythm of the storyand how slowly or quickly it progresses.

Digital Stories

• Scissors• Inconsequential Moments • myIligan

Benefits of DST in the classroom

Students…• Internalize the language of new media • Learn new ways of thinking and

communicating• Engage in an epistemological surplus • Develop their voice in the digital

realm • Become familiar with the DAOW of

DST

Integrating DST in the classroom

• Learn from what you watch• See technology as a teaching tool,

not a teaching goal• Allow your students to lead you• Learn by trial and error• Give your students freedom, but hold

them accountable• Consider yourself the executive

producer• Celebrate your students’ work

Educational Digital Stories

• The Yosemite Valley Story • Learning Spanish is Cool • Religious Freedom • Communication with Technology • Decisions • Adoption

Assessment

• Create a rubric to assess…– Story– Artifacts– Student planning and process–Media grammar– Content– Student teamwork and use of

resources– Performance – Self-assessment

Copyright law

• Quick Copyright Facts– All tangible creative works are protected

by copyright immediately upon creation– Quoting or crediting the author of a

copied work does not satisfy copyright requirements

– When in doubt about either the copyright status of a work or the appropriateness of your use of that work, get permission

– Be aware of Educational Fair Use

Copyright LawEducational Fair Use

• Fair Use Analysis–What is the character of use?–What is the nature of the work to be

used?– How much of the work will you use?–What effect would this use have on

the market for the original or for permissions if the use were widespread?

Examples of (non-commercial) Educational Purposes

• Instruction or curriculum-based teaching by educators to students at nonprofit educational institutions

• Study or investigation in order to contribute to a field of knowledge

• Presentation of research findings at peer conferences, workshops or seminars

Getting started!

• Part One: Define, Collect, Decide• Part Two: Select, Import, Create• Part Three: Decide, Write,

Record, Finalize• Part Four: Demonstrate,

Evaluate, Replicate

Integrating DST in the classroom

Story planning

Pre-production

Production Post-production

Performance, distribution

Ideas Make media list

Finish creating, editing media components (voice-over, music, pics, video, scans, etc)

Mix, add transitions, titles

Showing in class

Story storming

Gather raw media components

Assemble media into final product

Add credits & citations

Web posting

Story map Begin editing raw media components & creating new ones

Formative review

Final review Local TV

Peer pitching Final editing Local festival

Scripting, writing

Export final product into readable format

DVD?

DST Resources

• Digital storytelling– Center for Digital Storytelling– DigiTales

• Tools– AASL DST Wiki– 100 DST Tools

• Educational resources – The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling– Moving at the Speed of Creativity– Digital Storytelling in the classroom (Microsoft)

Conclusion