Digital Storytelling – making meaning from experience Dr. David B. Kent This presentation will explore the use and applicability of digital storytelling in various educational contexts, but particularly as it relates to EFL/ESL. Several examples specific to EFL/ESL, and Korea, will be introduced. Topics discussed will revolve around the types of digital storytelling that exist, effectiveness of digital storytelling in the classroom, means for evaluating student produced content, and utilization of the required tools, creative procedures, and the necessary resources that must come together to culminate in the development of multimedia literacy in terms of digital story production. Click to edit Master subtitle style KOTESOL Daejeon-ChungCheong Chapter Mini-Conference, Woosong University. September 19, 2009. Introduction What is digital storytelling? • Digital Storytelling combines the art of telling stories with some mixture of: digital graphics, text, audio narration, video and music. The story is therefore primarily visual. • The digital storytelling script is a first person narrative that tells a personal story in one’s own voice and style. It is this script that will be made into a digitized narration during production of the digital story. • Each story revolves around a theme and contains a viewpoint; stories are typically just a few minutes long. • The challenge digital stories present teachers revolves around seeking meaningful uses of digital imaging, and the desire to see students use digital imaging as a mode of communication and personal reflection. A means for students to utilize, and exhibit aspects from their life cache. Digital Storytelling A name for practicing multimedia literacy • Educators at all levels can use digital storytelling in a multitude of ways, from introducing new material to assisting students in learning to conduct research, synthesizing large amounts of content and gaining expertise in the use of digital communication and authoring tools. It can also serve as a lesson hook, a way to integrate multimedia into the curriculum, assist in making difficult content more understandable, and facilitating classroom discussion. • Digital storytelling can also help students organize their ideas as they learn to create stories for an audience, and present their ideas and knowledge in an individual, personal , and very meaningful way. • Challenges for students can arise from trouble in formulating a sound argument, holding low interest in storytelling, difficulty accessing technology (including hardware and software), and possessing a limited ability to save information from and to the internet. • Digital storytelling can also be very time-consuming, and copyright and intellectual issues may need to be considered. Types What types of digital storytelling exist? There are a number of different types of Digital Storytelling, as Bernard Robin of the College of Education at the University of Houston informs us. • • • Personal Narratives: Character stories, memorial stories, stories about events in our lives, stories about what we do, and other personal stories (such as discovery stories, love stories, and recovery stories). Historical Themes & Events: These need to become more than electronic encyclopedia entries, but more of an engaging and insightful mini-digital documentary. Stories that Inform or Instruct: All digital stories inform or instruct, the distinction is digital stories can be specially created to deliver specific learning content. This can cover all academic fields from math through to medicine. Examples: Graduate School of TESOL-MALL WSU Student – Korean High School Life (textual narrative) Korean High School Student – Shinday's Five Facts (narrative) University of Houston For EFL students - In the Kitchen (vocabulary development) By EFL students – Alyeda (tenses – past, present, future) Digital Storytelling in EFL How can digital storytelling lend itself to EFL teaching? For digital stories to be effective teachers and students need to focus on different aspects. TEACHERS can use digital storytelling as a presentation media appealing to diverse learning styles; generate interest, attention and motivation among learners; and, capitalize on the creative talent of students as they begin to research and tell stories. STUDENTS can develop communication skills by learning to ask questions, express opinions, construct narratives, and write for an audience. Collaboration of learners in story construction can see summary reports evolve into communication products, with authentic application for the lessons learned in class. Students will also increase their computer skills, and utilize software that combines a variety of media elements (including text, still images, audio, and video). A key to successful digital storytelling is assisting students in making meaning from experience. That is, connecting the structure of story to deep understanding and the retaining of information. Digital Storytelling EFL Activities How can I start using digital storytelling with EFL students? The process of digital storytelling assists with developing several language skills, such as reading and writing when storyboarding, and speaking and listening during collaboration and narration. It can also assist in enlarging vocabulary, and when working in collaborative groups students are able to share ideas, collect pictures, communicate, and engage in unique authentic experiences that can transform their understanding of text, words, and images. A number of traditional EFL classroom tasks can be easily transferred to the digital storytelling setting. For example: TASKS ACTIVITIES - - Retelling Tasks Process Writing Portfolio Development Digitizing the Photo Wall Movie Trailers News Broadcasts Commercials Reenactments/Oral History Projects Virtual Tours Digital Storytelling Effectiveness What elements are behind an effective digital story? • • • • • • • • • • An overall purpose Clear expression of the Narrator’s point of view Focusing on a dramatic question (or questions) Good choice of content Clarity of voice Well-paced narrative Selecting a meaningful soundtrack Selection of quality images Economy of story detail Appropriate language use Digital Storytelling Effective Elements 7 Elements of Effective Digital Storytelling Joe Lambert, founder and director of the Center for Digital Storytelling in the USA, identifies 7 elements of effective digital stories. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. A Point of View: The point of view element focuses on the writer, and the power of expression, as stories are constructed from students own experience and understanding. A Dramatic Question: The dramatic question holds the attention of the audience, and needs to be resolved by the end of the story. The emotional content of story needs to elicit response from the audience such as laughter, tears, enjoyment or surprise. Emotional Content: The emotional content of story needs to elicit response from the audience such as laughter tears, enjoyment or surprise. Economy: Economy is perhaps one of the most difficult elements. Digital stories are normally of only two or three minutes in length, and this limits you to about one double-spaced page of text. This helps you focus the story, and it also makes the construction process manageable in school settings. Pacing: Pacing is important, and pausing and varying the rhythm is important and essential in avoiding monotony. Gift of Voice: Importantly, particularly for language classrooms, digital storytelling allows for the gift of voice. Many teachers have those unheard and unseen students who enter, submit work, and leave at the sound of the bell without participating in discussion, group activities, or any task that asks for their voice. The process of digital storytelling allows these students to record themselves narrating theor own scripts. Accompanying Soundtrack: An accompanying soundtrack is also important, as music can enhance and underscore the story adding complexity and depth to the narrative. Digital Storytelling Evaluation How do you evaluate a digital story? • The best means available to evaluate a digital story is to use a prefabricated rubric (like the one below). The rubric should be presented to students before hand, so they understand what will be assessed. Digital Storytelling Rubric • Point of View - Purpose Establishes a purpose early on, and maintains a clear focus throughout 12345 Voice -Pacing Rhythm and voice fit story line, helps audience get into the story 12345 Images Images create a distinct atmosphere and tone, communicating symbolism and metaphor 12345 Economy The story is told with the right amount of detail throughout, and does not seem too short or too long 12345 Language Use Language use was appropriate, and contributed to the clarity, style, and character of the story 12345 Rubrics are used to evaluate the quality of student work on a complex project, using indicators in several categories. It is useful for teachers to apply pre-made rubrics, or you may even like to formulate one of your own so that it better reflects your teaching environment and the points you wish to assess. One good source is Rubistar, where you will find some pre-made evaluation options as well as information on how to create your own evaluation instruments. Digital Storytelling Tools What tools are available for digital storytelling creation? A variety of different software applications are available that provide support for the creation of digital stories. Some tools are very expensive, while others are free. More recently, free, online editing tools have become available as well. • • • • • • Microsoft Photo Story 3: Manipulate still images and audio. Windows free download. Easy to use program suitable for young children through to adults. Windows Movie Maker: Manipulate still image, video, and audio clips. Windows built-in. More sophisticated than Photo Story. Apple iMovie: Manipulate still image, video, and audio clips. OSX built-in. JumpCut: Online video/audio editing. Adobe Photoshop Elements: Modify images and text slides. Macintosh and Windows. Academic versions available. Goldwave: Record and edit digital audio. Windows free version available Digital Storytelling Creation How do I create a digital story? Define, Collect, Decide • Select a topic for the digital story • Search for images (pictures, photographs, charts) • Locate audio resources (music, speeches, interviews) • Find information content (pdf or Word files, PowerPoint slides) • Begin thinking of the purpose of your story Select, Import Create • Select the images you would like to use • Select the audio you would like to use • Select the content and text you would like to use • Import images, and then import audio, into Photo Story • Modify the number of images, or the image order, if necessary Decide, Write, Record, Finalize • Decide on the purpose and point of view of your digital story • Write a script to use as narration • Record the narration on computer, then import it into Photo Story • Finalize by saving your digital story as a video file Handout – Scripting & Storyboarding • Graphic courtesy of: Jennifer Carrier Dorman ‘Igniting Student Creativity through Digital Storytelling’ ( Digital Storytelling Resources What resources are available for digital storytelling? There are a number of good image archives as well as audio and video clip repositories available in the internet. Many of these are in the public domain. Public domain websites generally contain material that is free to use, uncopyrighted, whose copyright has expired, or is uncopyrightable. Images Flickr FreeFoto.com Pics4Learning.com Google PicSearch iStock Photo Stock Xchng Stock Vault Image Editing Picnik Phixr FotoFlexer Splashup Audio/Music ccMixter Find Sounds! Free Music Project FreePlay Music JamStudio Moonk TeacherTube SchoolTube Media Timelines Comic Strip Generators xTimeline OurStory Mnemograph Video Editing Jumpcut Jaycut Movie Masher Publishing Stories Video Kits Kitzu Schoolhouse Video Kits Mashups Animoto Voicethread OneTrueMedia Bookr Scrapblog BubbleShare SlideRoll MakeBeliefsComix Comiqs Toonlet Toondoo Digital Storytelling Sites & Stuff Where else can I get digital storytelling information? Online Story Resources • Children’s Storybooks online • Storynet.org • Tales to tell • The world of digital storytelling Research Articles • Applying a multimedia website in foreign language learning • Digital storytelling: Self-efficacy and digital literacy • Flattening the world from the inside: Digital storytelling with incarcerated youth • Setting the scene: Playing digital director Digital Storytelling Review Key Points 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Digital storytelling is a name for teaching and practicing multimedia literacy. Digital storytelling can be specially designed to deliver specific content for learning. The key to successful digital storytelling is being able to make meaning from experience. Working with images and text, to create a digital story, assists EFL/ESL students to develop visual literacy skills. Economy is one of the most difficult elements of a digital story to adhere to. Rubrics should be used to evaluate the quality of student work because they use indicators across several categories. Photo Story is one of the most popular digital storytelling tools to use with children. The steps in creating a digital story are: Define, collect, decide; select, import, create; decide, write, record, finalize. The internet is one of the best places to locate digital storytelling resources. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your day!