“A Story to Tell”Creating the Digital Archive

Zoë HughesNIID Research Student16th January, 2009.

The NIID

• 3 functions of the NIID:

– Research– Lifelong learning– Participation and inclusion

Research

• Multiple projects

• Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge

• Doing Disability Research

‘A Story to Tell’: Aims

• To support older people with a

disability to tell their story

• To develop a website to house these

stories

Why multimedia & the internet?

• News ways of accessing information

• Web 2.0: User generated content

• Accessibility for people with

intellectual and sensory disabilities

Method

• Lifestory methods for collecting stories

• Adapted ‘Digital Storytelling’ method

for sharing them

Digital storytelling

• Emerge in early 1990’s: inexpensive technology

• Response to civil rights actions in US

• “Digital storytelling is the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. Digital stories derive their power by weaving narrative and voice together, thereby giving deep dimension and vivid colour to characters, situations, experiences, and insights”

- Digital Storytelling Association

Digital Storytelling- Method

• Workshop format

• Narrative, music, images and video

• 2-4 minute video clip

Our method!

• 3 meetings to take story• Discussion about who to provide

audio track (IF this is what the storyteller wants)

• Discussion about images, colours, music, etc. to be used

Our method (contd.)

• Record & edit audio track- this is the podcast.

• Collect images for video• Put together video• View with storyteller & edit as

necessary.

The Archive

Layout

• Constant learning process

• Methods need to be adapted as we go

• Constant need to check with storyteller

Software

• Using Apple products exclusively• iTunes• Garageband• iMovie• iWeb

Why this software?

• Ease of use & integration• All the hard work already done

(mostly!)• Expense• Portability

What we’ve found so far

• Older people not immediately familiar with technology

• Visual example very useful

• Stories are accessible

• Watching others stories