8/3/2019 aPLaNet ICT Tools Factsheets_Category5_Digital Storytelling

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The project Autonomous Personal Learning Networks for Language Teachers has been funded with support from the

European Commission. This document reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible

for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Category NumberV

Digital storytelling

Keywords

digital storytelling, writing, creativity, narrative

URL address of suggested tools

Our story www.ourstory.comGlogster www.glogster.com

Other suggested tools

Animoto http://animoto.com

Mixbook www.mixbook.com

Creaza www.creaza.com

Rationale

The traditional text-oriented teaching/learning cannot offer a global vision of the learner's needs. As educational landscape is

constantly growing the incentives need to be multifarious and creative. Digital Storytelling tools offer great possibility to

engage students actively in composing texts and searching for additional material. They also promote teamwork and

collaboration with classmates and develop student's ability to reflect critically on their own L2 experience which is necessary

for making progress in learning. Digital Storytelling tools are creative and active way how to motivate and engage students in

learning languages.

The greatest benefits of these tools in the L2 process are:

improvement ofstudents writing skills. connectionon an emotional level with people and events in stories and with at the same time with experiences in

our own lives.

promotion of creativity and expressing ones personality. helping students communicate and express themselves more effectively using audio visual contents. growing teaming and collaboration skills through practiced opportunities to co-produce group projects. engagement of students in dynamic and interactive processes of learning. lowering ofstudents constraints and inconformity related with productive skill. enhancement of classroom discussion, community and global awareness, and a connection between students andwider community.

Description

In today's digitized world, visual storytelling is an important classroom tool popular as well for its affordability and accessibility.

Digital Storytelling tools enable creating stories and posters to express information. These tools offer sharing life events,

experience and other information using text, images, video and links to additional web resources related to the topic. After

writing a story or creating a poster your work is saved in the tool itself and can be shared with others by email, or embedded

into various blogs or websites.

Using these tools promotes students creativity and self-expression, and helps to develop team collaboration among students

in the classroom. Students can create and present their own individual or team projects.

For teachers these are valuable and versatile tools that can be integrated in various areas including not only languages but aswell other curricular field (science, history, art, music...). Using these tools can also improve relationships among students anda teacher by exploring Web 2.0 and learning concepts together. Use of digital storytelling tools in the classroom for producingpersonalized and original text-based results keep teachers and students up to date with modern technology in a very amusingway.

8/3/2019 aPLaNet ICT Tools Factsheets_Category5_Digital Storytelling

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The project Autonomous Personal Learning Networks for Language Teachers has been funded with support from the

European Commission. This document reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible

for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Resources required

No special equipment to use these tools is needed.

Obligatory resources

Desktop computer or laptop Internet browser and connection

Optional resources

Printer if requiredCost

Suggested tools

Our Story: Partly Free - Premium features are paid services.

Glogster: FreeAnother useful tools

Animoto: Partially Mixbook: Partially Creaza: Partially

Implementation methodology

The power of digital storytelling tools dwells in the combination or interactivity, productive skills combined with actions such asvocalization, physical movement and/or gesture. It presents a story and encourages the active imagination of the listeners.These components are naturally adjusted to the age level and language experience of the creator or the audience. Whereverthere is a story told, there are listeners exploring new worlds, scenarios and developing critical thinking skills to connect them

to their world and their own experiences.In the classroom, the possibilities are countless and they can vary significantly to produce interactive and attractive lessonplans. Some of the uses might be:

Work in form of a digistory on a particular life experience or event. Express opinions on assigned topics or readings. Illustrate a social problem. Talk about family, education, travel, work, life expectations, holidays.

The results can be printed, emailed, embedded into a website or blog, and/or placed in the classroom. There is also possibilityto select the most interesting or successful piece created within the classroom and place it on school websites or in a schoolmagazine.

Other issues

Students might need to be shown how these tools work and how they can create their own stories and posters adding imagesand videos.

Useful tips

Students can browse for videos in the platformYouTube.www.youtube.com

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