Digital storytelling has become one of the most popular ways to use technology and incorporate it into the curriculum. I think this is because it is easy to use and incorporate into any grade level and/or age group. There are many ways to use digital story telling in the classroom, and there is also a variety of software available. No matter what the subject or how in depth the subject matter is, it seems that by using digital story telling the ways of presenting information is endless!
One common thread that sews all digital stories together is the use of digital pictures, text, videos, and narration. The internet is an excellent source of information, but as teachers and media specialists one must teach students how to find RELIABLE information. This is one if not many media center lessons alone. By providing students with source links and “digital media tool boxes” this helps to cut down on the time a student spends reading and judging the credibility of sources. Digital stories can be created on almost any topic ranging from fictional stories, to personal narratives, to informational research of historical events. The key is to make the digital story engaging and entertaining for the audience.
As I mentioned earlier, there is a huge variety of digital story telling software available. Some are very simplistic and would lend themselves to even the youngest of students while others are quite complex and would require technological training before students could successfully create stories independently. Here are a few of my favorite digital software options:
Microsoft Photo Story is one of the most easy to use digital story making software options available in school districts. I have personally used this program with students as young as 7 years old. This program guides the students through making digital stories using easy, step-by-step instructions. While some of the transitions are simplistic, it is user friendly and allows students to narrate and add text to photographs. Music can easily be added to liven up a story. One down side is the fact that live video cannot be incorporated into the digital stories. This would be a great program to use to introduce the art of digital story telling without overwhelming students and/or teachers.
As a Mac fanatic myself, I love the iMovie software because it is easy to use and creates beautiful products. This program is more advanced than some available in the classroom, and Mac computers are not often seen in the school setting, but iMovie allows users to create, edit, and publish professional grade movies that incorporate easy to use tools such as templates, themes, transitions, and trailers. I also like that one can export their movie in a variety of ways including YouTube . This program can incorporate photographs, live videos, music, text, and many other interesting features to bring a digital story to life!
Windows Movie Maker 2.6
Windows Movie Maker is similar to Apple’s iMovie and allows PC users to make professional quality movies incorporating many of the things that iMovie has to offer. This is a popular program given that it is supported by Microsoft Windows, and is an excellent way to use digital storytelling with older students (I have used with 4th and 5th graders, but could also be used with middle and high school students). Unlike Photostory, Windows Movie Maker allows users to edit live video and disperse video intermittently with photographs. The author can add music, transitions, text, and narration to digitial stories.
As a future media specialist, I enjoy using Digital Storytelling with students. It helps to bring writing and research projects to life and allows students to create a professional looking project that they can share and be proud of. Teaching students to be successful digital storytellers requires a bit of teaching, but it exploration also needs to be part of the lessons. In order for students to take ownership in their products, the SLMS must allow students to try out new techniques. As the students discover how to use the digital storytelling software, the more interesting and engaging their stories will become. A library media specialist must also allow students of even the youngest ages to tell stories using computers. Using computers to incorporate photographs, video, and narration allows the learning standards and objectives to come to life! The learning opportunities become endless and the products that the students create to “show what they know” become better and better.
Digital Storytelling is an excellent opportunity to bring a student’s thoughts and writing to life. Giving students the opportunity to become an integral part of the learning process is necessary, in order for them to understand the concept being taught. Allowing them to create a story using video clips, audio, music and text gives more meaning to the idea or taught being created. Providing the students with a “digital media tool box” is a great way to cut-down on a lot of time being spent on finding reliable sources. This tool box will also help decrease students visits to unrelated websites. That is how a lot of time is lost when students are asked to create projects, they spend the majority of time surfing the Internet. I also agree that the students must be trained on “how to” create a digital story, in order for the student to be able to create a professional product they can truly be proud of. I would also suggest that showing them examples of digital stories created by their peers from a previous year would also serve as a great learning tool. Like many of today’s learners, something visual speaks a thousand words and can lead someone in the correct direction with respect to the project they must create. Unfortunately I haven’t had the opportunity to create digital stories in my classroom, but look forward to creating one and teaching others as a media specialist.
ReplyDeleteTricia, I liked how you talked about writing. I think digital storytelling can add importance to students' writing. I didn't think about the fact that it can bring it to life as well. A picture is worth a 1,000 words!
DeleteDigital storytelling is a great way to present information to students in a way that they are accustomed to learning. Today's students use technology more and more and are accustomed to the fast pace of technology. Digital storytelling offers that techie fast pace that students are accustomed to.
ReplyDeleteIt also offers a hook for students. The teacher begins a unit with a digital story to get students interested and involved.
Susan, what an awesome idea to use a digital story as a hook at the beginning of a lesson. I have used book trailers for a similar purpose but had not previously thought of using digital stories this way. Thanks!
DeleteChris and Hannah,
ReplyDeleteYou explained how not many schools have Mac computers, so they are limited in terms of using iMovie. There is a version available on iPhone that students can use if they were inclined to do so. Many of them have iPhones anyway and seem to think they can do everything from the device. A teacher explained to me that a student wanted to “challenge” himself, so he completed the entire research paper and digital presentation all from his iPhone. I would not prefer to do that from beginning to end on such a small screen, but the students usually don’t seem to mind the size of the device as long as it gives them what they need.
This post is particularly interesting to me because starting next year my kindergarten students could possibly be learning how to create and publish digital stories. One of the CCGPS for kindergarten states:
ReplyDeleteELACCKW6: With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
All of the kindergarten teachers panicked when we read this standard because kindergarten students are not independent workers and need constant support from the teacher. We have asked our principal for clarification on what exact digital tools students are expected to produce and publish writing with but we have not gotten an answer yet. After reading about Photo Story and how it is appropriate for younger students I feel a lot better about this. I think that next year will be a learning process for teachers and students. I am nervous but excited to introduce my kindergarten students to digital tools like digital storytelling. Children today are much more competent and comfortable with various forms of technology at a younger age than ever before. Digital storytelling is a great way to get students excited about writing. How cool is it to be able to turn your story that you wrote into a movie? I know my kindergarten children would love it! It is amazing the things that can be produced! I think showing examples of past students work could be a great activator to get students interested and also show them what they will be expected to do.
I really liked your comment that states," The key is to make the digital story engaging and entertaining for the audience." Digital storytelling IS engaging and entertaining and dealing with the technologically advanced students of today requires teachers and media specialists to be more proactive in finding ways to engage students in the learning process. Let's face it... students are more eager to embrace assignments that center around and deal with technology and whether its used as a hook, the lesson, or an assignment a digital story is a great way to engage a learner.
ReplyDeleteMy class loves to have time to work on the computer. Allowing my class to use digital storytelling tools as a writing tool would make them waht to write. I have several reluctant writers in my class, but if they had the opportunity to use a tool like movie maker to make their piece come alive I think they might enjoy writing. Some of my boys are very creative, but terrible writers. These tools could let them shine in an area they normally would not.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I was really concerned going forward with the digital storytelling assignment but after reading your blog, I feel a lot more comfortable and confident about it. I am now excited about incorporating all of these aspects into one final presentation. I am also excited about the precept of incorporation digital storytelling into my classroom and eventually being able to help classroom teachers incorporate it to their classrooms as the media specialist. As for my digital story - I will probably use iMovie because I am also a huge mac fans and have a mac book. Thanks for the great info!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. I really enjoyed reading about how to use the making of stories with students. I agree that training will need to take place with the students, so that they don't get frustrated with making something new. This is definitely a good way to engage them with their own learning.
ReplyDeleteThanks,for making suggestions of programs to use to make this happen.