Digital Storytelling

What is Digital Storytelling?   

 I have to admit prior to the readings and materials this week I had never given digital storytelling much thought. Sure I had heard the term, but I didn't really know what it meant and certainly didn't know if I had ever used it myself and knew my students had never done any digital storytelling.  According to the article What is Digital Storytelling, digital storytelling is basically telling stories using computer based tools. Digital storytelling involves using graphics, audio, video, and other multimedia elements to create stories. Digital storytelling can cover a wide range of topics. Those topics can be nonfiction topics such as explaining a concept, teaching about an event in history, or telling about the life of a person. Digital storytelling can also be fiction based and tell a made up story. At times, it can be a made up story that teaches about a concept. 

Here is an article that explains a little more about digital storytelling. 

https://blog.heinemann.com/what-is-digital-storytelling

How Do You Create Digital Stories?

    Digital storytelling doesn't have to be complex, and there are a variety of web-based programs that can help you and your students create digital stories. When you decide to create a digital story, the first step is to decide what your purpose is for creating a digital story. There are a variety of reasons to create a digital story: retell a historical event, explain a concept, tell a personal experience, create a made up story just for entertainment. Once you have decided on a purpose and topic you will need to create a script and storyboard to help you with your video. Finally, you will create your video by gathering or creating the images or video clips, choosing music and sound effects ,and recording your voice over. 

Below are some links to digital storytelling resources. Some of the resources are free, some you have to pay for, and some you can get a free trail to test them out. 

https://elearningindustry.com/18-free-digital-storytelling-tools-for-teachers-and-students

https://www.educatorstechnology.com/2023/05/some-of-the-best-free-digital-storytelling-tools-for-teachers.html

https://www.techlearning.com/tl-advisor-blog/30-sites-and-apps-for-digital-storytelling

References

Why Should You Use Digital Storytelling?

    You may be asking yourself, the question, why use digital storytelling? Why not just use traditional storytelling methods? There are a plethora of reasons why digital storytelling is beneficial. Rebmann states that some reasons to encourage digital storytelling are its richness as an activity, its responsiveness to curricular standards, and its effectiveness in leveraging library resources. Digital storytelling and working with technology may be a motivator for young writers to simply begin a story when they are usually hesitant to do so. Digital storytelling allows children to develop personal narratives while engaging in literacy practices associated with the ever changing information age. According to Rebmann there is research to suggest that digital storytelling projects are particularly supportive of struggling writers. 

    In addition to the benefits of having students use digital storytelling to tell their stories, there are benefits when teachers and librarian use digital storytelling with students. Many students have difficulty connecting with concepts when they are simply given information orally or asked to read a paragraph or pages on a topic. However, they often respond to something visual like digital storytelling. Students can make a connection to the material because it has been presented to them in a way that makes sense, where they can "see it come to life." Digital storytelling is an excellent method sharing information with students who may have difficulty or a disability in reading or who struggle with taking notes. 

How to Promote Digital Storytelling?

    Many teachers may be unaware of digital storytelling and its many benefits (as I was), but as a librarian you can promote digital storytelling in your building. There are several things you can do to promote digital storytelling:

1) Improve teacher awareness by communicating and provided training opportunities.

2) Share information about research and best practices.

3) Highlight examples of uses of digital storytelling.

4) Offer you knowledge of resources, technological expertise and support to teachers as they learn about and attempt to use digital storytelling in their classrooms. 

    In conclusion, digital storytelling is a valuable tool that can be used by students, teachers, and librarians in a variety of ways that will benefit students of all ages and ability levels. 

What I've Been Reading This Week:

This week I have been reading a combination of ghost/ scary stories and poetry so I've highlighted a few of my selections below. 

References

Dogan, B. (2023). What is digital storytelling?. University of Houston, College of Education. https://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/page.cfm?id=27&cid=27

Rebmann, K. R. (2012). Theory, practice, tools: Catching up with digital storytelling. Teacher Librarian, 39(2), 30-34. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260339931_Catching_up_with_Digital_Storytelling

***all book images from Amazon.com***