Storytelling for the Digital Age
Known variously as "digital documentaries," "computer-based narratives," "electronic memoirs," and "interactive storytelling," Digital Storytelling is method of storytelling that has the promise of breathing new life into just about any topic or content area. The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling Website by College of Education at the University of Houston, defines digital storytelling simply as “the practice of using computer-based tools to tell stories,” combining, graphic design, audio, video and web publishing.
Digital stories are typically 2 to 10 minutes in length, and can cover personal narratives, science, art, history, literature, and virtually any topic a creator has in mind. What sets digital storytelling apart from traditional storytelling is the obvious: the use of technology to expand the story being told --through video clips, the creator’s audio narration, the inclusion of dramatic background music and sound effects, and special visual effects and animations that that maker imports or creates, uploads and edits into the story.
According to the University of Houston Digital Storytelling website, “Research has shown that the use of multimedia in teaching helps students retain new information as well as aids in the comprehension of difficult material. And Digital Storytelling can provide educators with a powerful tool to use in their classrooms.”
The website goes on to explain the power of digital storytelling as a tool for developing students’ literacy skills because it capitalizes upon the interests of learners growing up in the digital age. Through projects assigned by teachers, students can hone their research and analysis skills as they look for relevant content on the Web; students can also develop their communication and organizational skills as they plot out storyboards, collaborate with one another to develop scripts and story flows; organize their ideas to create intelligible stories for a variety of audiences; and hone their presentation skills for digital stories that are polished for online publication. Add to these that fact that digital storytelling creation involves the development of numerous tech skills that are now deemed necessary "21st Century College and Career Skills."
“Digital Storytelling appeals to students with diverse learning styles," says the University of Houston webpage. "And can also foster collaboration when students are able to work in groups, and provides value in enhancing the student experience through personal ownership and accomplishment.”
The Center for Digital Storytelling or CDS in Berkeley, CA, defines seven elements of digital storytelling. Point of View, A Dramatic Question, Emotional Content, The Gift of Your Voice (A way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context), The Power of the Soundtrack, Economy, and Pacing. These elements align with commonly known aspects of the traditional video and film production process.
Digital Storytelling may sound quite familiar to you, since many news publications --such as the New York Times and the Washington Post have taken to telling stories digitally since 2012 when print publications stepped up their efforts to join keep up with the digital age. Digital Storytelling is now a regular and captivating feature of online editions of the news. Here are some samples.
In the after school program setting, Digital Storytelling could be a long-term interdisciplinary literacy project, where participants work in pairs or groups to determine a story they want to tell, conduct the background research into the subject, research and gather compelling images and footage, develop a narrative, and even compose their own background music. Watch the "Create a Digital Story" video above to see how easy it can be.
Digital stories are typically 2 to 10 minutes in length, and can cover personal narratives, science, art, history, literature, and virtually any topic a creator has in mind. What sets digital storytelling apart from traditional storytelling is the obvious: the use of technology to expand the story being told --through video clips, the creator’s audio narration, the inclusion of dramatic background music and sound effects, and special visual effects and animations that that maker imports or creates, uploads and edits into the story.
According to the University of Houston Digital Storytelling website, “Research has shown that the use of multimedia in teaching helps students retain new information as well as aids in the comprehension of difficult material. And Digital Storytelling can provide educators with a powerful tool to use in their classrooms.”
The website goes on to explain the power of digital storytelling as a tool for developing students’ literacy skills because it capitalizes upon the interests of learners growing up in the digital age. Through projects assigned by teachers, students can hone their research and analysis skills as they look for relevant content on the Web; students can also develop their communication and organizational skills as they plot out storyboards, collaborate with one another to develop scripts and story flows; organize their ideas to create intelligible stories for a variety of audiences; and hone their presentation skills for digital stories that are polished for online publication. Add to these that fact that digital storytelling creation involves the development of numerous tech skills that are now deemed necessary "21st Century College and Career Skills."
“Digital Storytelling appeals to students with diverse learning styles," says the University of Houston webpage. "And can also foster collaboration when students are able to work in groups, and provides value in enhancing the student experience through personal ownership and accomplishment.”
The Center for Digital Storytelling or CDS in Berkeley, CA, defines seven elements of digital storytelling. Point of View, A Dramatic Question, Emotional Content, The Gift of Your Voice (A way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context), The Power of the Soundtrack, Economy, and Pacing. These elements align with commonly known aspects of the traditional video and film production process.
Digital Storytelling may sound quite familiar to you, since many news publications --such as the New York Times and the Washington Post have taken to telling stories digitally since 2012 when print publications stepped up their efforts to join keep up with the digital age. Digital Storytelling is now a regular and captivating feature of online editions of the news. Here are some samples.
In the after school program setting, Digital Storytelling could be a long-term interdisciplinary literacy project, where participants work in pairs or groups to determine a story they want to tell, conduct the background research into the subject, research and gather compelling images and footage, develop a narrative, and even compose their own background music. Watch the "Create a Digital Story" video above to see how easy it can be.