The Educational Uses ofDigital Storytelling

  Bernard Robin, associate professor of instructional technology,

University of Houston College of Education

Presentation Materials are online at:

http://faculty.coe.uh.edu/brobin/DS/blinn.htm

Education in Transition

ISTE National Education Technology Standards for Teachers

Digital Storytelling

Many definitions, but in general:

Combining the art of telling stories with some mixture of digital graphics, text, recorded audio narration, video and music to present information on a specific topic.

Revolve around a theme and often contain a particular viewpoint; stories are typically just a few minutes long.

The Challenges

Seeking meaningful uses of digital imaging other than the superficial ones

Wanting students to use digital imaging as a mode of communication and personal reflection

Integrating multimedia development into K-12, pre-service and graduate education

Elements of a Digital Story1. Overall Purpose of the Story2. Narrator’s Point of View3. A Dramatic Question (or Questions)4. Choice of Content 5. Clarity of Voice6. Pacing of the Narrative 7. Meaningful Soundtrack8. Quality of the Images9. Economy of the Story Detail10.Good Grammar and Language Usage

Types of Digital Stories 1

Personal Narratives Character Stories Memorial Stories Events & Places in Our Lives Accomplishment Stories Stories about What We Do Recovery Stories

Types of Digital Stories 2

Examination of Historical Themes and Events Based on Material Students Explore Facilitates Research and Organizational

Skills Needs to Go Beyond the Digitized “MTV

Video” or the “Encyclopedia Entry”*

Types of Digital Stories -3 Stories that Inform or Instruct

Can be Argued that All Digital Stories Inform (or Instruct)

But the Distinction is that Digital Stories Can Be Created that Deliver Instructional Content on Many Different Topics, Including: Math, Science, Language Arts, Medicine, etc.

The “New” Digital Storytelling Process Select and submit the topic for the story, either from a pre-selected list of

approved topics or with approval of the instructor.

Write the first version of a script for your digital story and submit for feedback. 

Conduct an oral history of a content expert or other individual who can add useful information about your topic. 

Collect images for the story from the web, scanned from books, and taken with a digital camera. Create a storyboard using these images and submit for feedback. 

Update script and submit a draft version of the digital story for feedback. 

Record the narration for your story and add music and submit for feedback. 

Edit the audio based on the instructor’s feedback.  

Develop a complete version of the story and submit it to the instructor for review and feedback.

Student Evaluation -1

Student Evaluation -2

An Effective Tool for Teachers Stories Created by Teachers Can

Serve: As a Lesson Hook As a Way to Integrate Multimedia

into the Curriculum As a Way to Make Difficult Content

More Understandable To Facilitate Classroom Discussion

An Effective Learning Tool for Students Research Skills Writing Skills Organization Skills Technology Skills Presentation Skills Interview Skills Interpersonal Skills Problem-Solving Skills Assessment Skills

Student Literacy

Digital Literacy Global Literacy Technology Literacy Visual Literacy Information Literacy

Challenges to Students Creating Digital Stories

Trouble Formulating a Sound Argument Less Interest in the Storytelling Access to Technology Hardware and

Software Limited Ability to Save from the Internet Time Consuming Copyright and Intellectual Property

Issues

Research on the Impact of Digital Storytelling

Educators who ARE Using DS: How are you using Digital Storytelling? Are you creating digital stories to show to your

students? Are you teaching your students to create their own

digital stories? If students are using Digital Storytelling, what are the

outcomes? Have you demonstrated Digital Storytelling to others? If so, to other teachers? Who else?

Do you feel that Digital Storytelling has changed your teaching practice?

Research on the Impact of Digital Storytelling

Educators who ARE NOT Using DS: Why are you not using Digital Storytelling? What are the

obstacles? Do you have questions about how to use Digital

Storytelling in your instruction? Are you experiencing technical problems? If so, what

problems are you having? Are you interested in additional Digital Storytelling

training sessions? Are there other issues that are preventing you from using

Digital Storytelling in your instruction? Are you planning to use Digital Storytelling in the future?

More Research on Digital Storytelling

Helen Barrett's Research Design: How do digital stories provide evidence of deep

learning? Under what conditions can digital stories be used to

support assessment for learning? Under what conditions do students take ownership of

their digital stories? What are the benefits of developing digital stories as

perceived by students, teachers, administrators, and/or parents?

What are perceived obstacles to implementing digital storytelling with P-12 students and how can they be overcome?

How does the quality of paper-based reflection differ from digital stories?

A Few Words about Copyright

Many of the digital stories on our site include images and audio found on the Internet using commonly available search engines. The stories have been created for non-profit, educational use by students and teachers and we hope are within the fair use protection of existing copyright laws. If any copyright owner objects to the use of any work appearing on this website, please contact us and we will remove the work from the site.

A Memorable Quote

“…what is occurring because of that one simple little thing you have done (teaching digital storytelling) is really rather phenomenal.  Remember your comment at the beginning of the training about – would it help if I could give you a technology tool that very quickly you could learn and use even if you don’t know anything about technology?  I wondered when you said that how it could be done.  Well, you did it and it has proven to be effective many times over with an unbelievable ripple effect as it is touching special education, ESL students, recent immigrants, parents of autistic children, and on and on.” – a high school teacher in Texas

Digital Storytelling Software

 - free software from Microsoft for Windows XP & Vista

Download the free Microsoft Photo Story 3 Software for Windowshttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx

Photo Story 3

Web 2.0 Tools

50 Ways to Tell a Digital Story

http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/50+Ways