digital storytelling for africa: case study of an international digital media project
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given at eLearning Africa, Accra, Ghana, 30 May 2008, about the Digital Hero Book ProjectTRANSCRIPT
Digital storytelling for Africa: case study of an international digital media project
Steve Vosloo
Background
HIV/AIDS, poverty, conflict & unemployment
Significant psychosocial needs of youth in South Africa
Hero book: a child is the author, illustrator, main character (hero) and editor of a paper-based book that is designed to help them overcome a specific challenge or obstacle in their life to reach their goals
Good but limited reach
•School environment
•Safe, secure platform
●Discussion forum+
Hero book
•Increased selfesteem
•Resilience●Video+
Overview (intended)
●Global
Stanford UniversityReuters Foundation
Pilot sites
Cape Town, South Africa
Nyeri, Kenya
San Francisco, USA
OutputsSouth Africa
78 learners created paper hero books
Hero booking was offered in Reading, English, Administration, Life orientation and Arts & Culture lessons.
15 learners were part of the online exchange.
20 learners created digital versions of their books through 2 digital storytelling workshops.
Kenya and USA
7 learners created paper hero books (Kenya).
15 learners were part of the online exchange (Kenya and USA).
Digital storiesSee www.digitalherobook.org/hero-stories
Word / Writer (script)
Adobe Photoshop / Picasa (images)
Audacity (audio)
iMovie / Windows Movie Maker / Adobe Premier (video)
Soundslides (slideshow)
“Some of my learners who were the most disruptive before, have been the most enthusiastic to embark on
the project.”
“They definitely have more self-confidence.”
“The workshop helped me to overcome my problem. I am now able to talk in front of people without becoming
nervous.”
“It was an experience of a lifetime and I learned many things. I learned a lot of computer skills.”
ChallengesEducator related
Educators' capacity (time and skills)Short lesson timesDifficulty of online communications with educators
Psychosocial relatedDealing with psychosocial issuesChallenge of scaling psychosocial workEvaluation is time-consuming
GeneralCurriculum alignment
Lessons learned and recommendations
Digital media production is engagingImproved educator-learner relationships
More interactive platform neededMore inclusive digital activitiesThe challenge of coordinationMore facilitation of online engagement
Next steps:More schools in CTMore in-depth evaluationCurriculum alignmentEnable secure social networkingToolkit
Improving cross-cultural awareness and communication through mobile technologiesTeens in South Africa and USA
Camera phones and blogs
Think about and present culture in:
Your lifeYour homeYour community
Capture, upload, view, reflect
Implications for Africa
Technology is mediating the way that youth around the world communicate, and consume and create content Increased collaboration across place and cultureNeed for cross-cultural awareness and communication skills is more important than everDigital media technologies: cameras, phones, web can mediate the development of these skills
Africa needs to:Develop more local contentCollaborate more – inside and outside continent
