Digital+Storytelling

Victoria Gonzalez EDUF 560 Summer 2010 __Digital Storytelling __ Digital storytelling is the modern day twist of storytelling. Digital storytelling is created by combining a recorded voice or voices, still and moving images, and music or other sounds. It is also typically told in the first person. Digital Storytelling is flexible because it could be used to tell many different types of stories ranging from one’s own personal experiences to historical accounts that have impacted the world. The range of topics that could be covered is enormous. People and educators can use digital storytelling to journal or document one’s own life experiences, thoughts, emotions, future plans, and ideas.

Digital storytelling is a helpful tool to accommodate to multiple intelligences and learning styles. This educational tool will be effective because students will be engaged. Although digital storytelling may initially seem overwhelming for educators to use in the classroom, they should take comfort in knowing that most digital stories are created by people who have little or no experience in video production. Because of the increase in this method of teaching, workshops have been created to help educators gain these new skills (The Educational Uses of Storytelling, 2010).

Digital storytelling will be very beneficial for students who have missed a lesson because of absenteeism or were pulled out of the class for special education or related services. With teachers replaying the digital story, students will be able to catch up on what they had missed. Digital storytelling is also beneficial for students who may have not initially comprehended the material immediately. These students would be able to watch and listen to the digital story multiple times without taking learning time from those you comprehended the topic the first time. Digital storytelling lets people share stories at anytime anywhere. This is a great tool for differentiated instruction.

Perhaps one of the best benefits of digital storytelling is that it encourages collaborative learning. Students will be able to reflect and discuss and share their thoughts about the story and their opinions about the topic.

Students take a lot of pride in their work; digital storytelling is something that they could complete and take pride in. Older students will be able to create their own digital story. This will give them the opportunity to learn how to work in a group, better their presentation skills, and learn how to use and apply technology for educational purposes. Having students become digital storytellers, provides the teacher with an authentic and creative assessment. Through this activity, students will also be able to develop higher order thinking skills and thus fully comprehend and understand the concept being taught (Ortega, 2010). Teachers in the 21st century have a responsibility of teaching their students the many different types of technology and the multiple uses of it. Digital storytelling is way to incorporate this into any lesson.

Digital storytelling is valuable because it encompasses: student engagement, collaborative and project based learning, effective towards multiple intelligences, and incorporates technology in any lesson.

Here is a link from the Univeristy of Houston describing what digital storytelling is:  []. In this link you will also find examples of digital stories. Enjoy! =Bibliography= Ortega, J. (2010). //Digital Storytelling//. Retrieved July 8, 2010, from Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/Jannette3783/digital-storytelling-3472864 //The Educational Uses of Storytelling//. (2010). Retrieved July 8, 2010, from University of Houston: http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/