Digital Storytelling has many definitions, but usually involves the telling of our personal stories combining digital technology to integrate text, sound, graphics, and sometimes film. It is a great way for students to begin working with multimedia projects because they tell their own stories, learning the techniques and technical tools of this kind of creative expression, but within a familiar context.
Digital Storytelling Overview
Technology and Digital Stories
Digital stories involve some or all of these components:
- an engaging and well written story
- slides or clips
- backgrounds
- graphics or images
- text
- sounds, narration and/or music
- a transition to move from slide to slide or clip to clip
- a title slide and an ending slide that lists credits
7 Elements of Digital Stories
- Audience – Stories have a particular audience in mind.
- Purpose – Stories are trying to accomplish a task (inform, educate, entertain, scare, etc.)
- Content – Content must be meaningful. Digital content adds to the story.
- Voice – Stories are told from a specific perspective(s) and uses the tellers voice to enrich the story.
- Technology – Technology is used to extend the story.
- Connections – Good stories connect with the participants.
- Economy – Stories tell enough to get the point across and no more.
Adapted from the Center for Digital Storytelling
Getting Started with Digital Storytelling
- Create an engaging and meaningful story.
- Create a storyboard that will plan the graphics, sounds, text, narration and music you will use. (Storyboard samples are included before, or use software like word, Inspiration, or Comic Life which is great for storyboarding!)
- Collect materials in folders(pictures, sound files, graphics).
- Learn how to use your software of choice for the story.
- Create your story using your software of choice.
- Edit, revise and share your story!
Software that supports Digital Storytelling
- Pixie
- Easy Book
- Voicethread
- Movie Maker
- iMovie
- Powerpoint
- SMART Notebook software
- Frames 4
- Comic Life (also great for Storyboarding)
- Creative Book Builder
Examples of Student/Teacher Created Digital Stories:
The Silent Hero from Brenda Sherry on Vimeo.
Not a FairyTale from Brenda Sherry on Vimeo.
- A Special Lady by Christina Rzazewski (teacher story) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHjGXzR5Abs
- How to Animate a Rolling Ball http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgbLAreElNI
- The Fox and the Owl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN8aAvqIbhg&feature=related
- Do I Belong Here? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etc3wRfrINs&feature=related
- Hidden http://theconstructionzone.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/hidden-a-project-that-worked/
- A Good Dad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSPlflmRqnk
Digital Storytelling Experts….Learn from them!
- Basic Steps to Telling a Digital Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVFJVBcG_7Y
- www.digitales.us Bernajean Porter’s Gorgeous Site to help you get started with Digital Storytelling
- Check out David Jakes’ site for great Digital Storytelling resources http://www.jakesonline.org/storytelling.htm
- Jason Ohler http://www.jasonohler.com/storytelling/index.cfm
- What Kids Can Do – Adobe Youth Voices http://www.whatkidscando.org/specialcollections/adobeyouthvoices/index.html
- Five Card Flickr Game http://5card.cogdogblog.com/play.php?suit=5card
- Alan Levine (@cogdog) 50+ Web 2.0 Ways to Tell a Story http://cogdogblog.com/stuff/50ways/
- Green Screening http://langwitches.org/blog/2011/04/03/more-on-digital-storytelling-green-screen/ and more Articles on her blog here
- Stories For Change – great examples, resources, and teacher materials
- Storycenter.org – Digital Storytelling and Podcasting