what could we learn from children as digital storytellers? (ahead final seminar presentation)
TRANSCRIPT
What could we learn from children as digital storytellers?Johanna Penttilä, CICERO Learning, University of HelsinkiAnne Kuokkanen, DiSEL21 Ltd
Background – Where do we come from?
FINNABLE2020 and SAVI projects (2010-2015) Experimenting with digital storytelling in school
context From kindergarten to upper comprehensive school Variety of subjects and topics
Developing a digital storytelling platform for educational use
Digital storytelling for ’digital natives’
‘Remember the times when we had only three television channels, cassette recorders, or cell phones that could only make phone calls…’
’Digital generation uses digital technology transparently, without thinking about it, marveling at it, or wondering about how it works’ (Jukes, McCain & Crockett, 2010).
Today’s children are used to capturing photos and videos during their free time, and thus, digital storytelling allows them to express content-area understanding familiar ways (Ohler, 2013.)
However, digital storytelling is not just about using technology for learning. Moreover, it is about story scripting, knowledge building, creativity, communication, and collaboration.
(Pedagogical) digital story
Short duration (1-4 minutes) Multimedia production that contains video clips,
photos, music, animation, and written or narrated content
Multiple shapes and forms: autobiographies, portfolios, documentaries, informative and instructive narratives…
Mobile devices (e.g., smartphones and tablets) for capturing the story material
Editing with a variety of software and apps The final product is often shared through social
networking site(s)
Tool for creating digital stories
• An Internet based video service developed at Tampere University of Technology and University of Helsinki
• Open for users having an user ID for the system, but closed from outsiders
• Enables easy-to-use video editing tools, collaboration, and global sharing
Frontpage
Editing tool
Inviting others to collaborate
Communicate through private messages
Features of children’s digital stories
Using formats familiar from Internet’s video sharing servides, e.g., tutorials
Strong pursuit for ’teaching others something new’, and offering a window to their own reality
Privacy protection or being camera shy: hiding faces, cropping images
Natural born commentators! Behaviour adopted from social media: willingness to
know, what others think about their videos and eagerness to give feedback / discuss with others
Example stories
Slippery slime http://cicero-movie.edu.helsinki.fi/?
l=0&c=1&g=145&d=mnstge&ms=0&mx=0&a=wtch&vw=1&med=4875&stg=2
What does the surface tension do? http://cicero-movie.edu.helsinki.fi/?
l=0&c=1&g=0&d=frntpg&ms=0&mx=280&a=wtch&vw=1&med=7050&stg=0
Bio bag http://cicero-movie.edu.helsinki.fi/?l=0&c=1&g=145&d=frntpg&sw=bio%20bag&ss=3&a=wtch&vw
=1&med=1855&stg=0
Key take aways
Story comes first – scripting is important
Give room to your own voice and personality
Define your purposes, and find a right kind of
technology
Curious and experimental attitude towards
technology
