Digital Storytelling

Teaching at any grade level it is important to let your student's express themselves and their voices heard. 

As an English teacher I have quite a few different routes for this task and one of those being digital storytelling. 

Here is a youtube video on the seven elements of digital storytelling:

http://youtu.be/a1f-_FXgJZM

Having a degree in elementary education and now a teaching certificate for high school English I am aware of the Common Core State Standards which expect that children across the grades can write for three specific purposes:

1.       Opinion pieces that persuade a reader and make an argument

2.       Informative writing that explains an idea and relays information

3.       Narrative stories of real or imagined events.

And from kindergarten through 12th grade, students are expected to share their writing through technology. Digital storytelling is an excellent way for the students to reach these standards, express themselves and utilize the use of technology.

Here is a link to a blog that has some examples of digital storytelling and some helpful pointers:

http://newdigitalstorytelling.net/

The use of technology should be the last step of the creating process for students. They should have already drafted, revised, and edited their personal narrative, or their group has already come together to plan a presentation of their argument for an opinion piece of writing before they produce their digital story! This is very important because they may miss key points to the standards and lesson if they are thrown straight into the digital/technological part of the assignment.

I really like the use of a graphic organizer like a storyboard to have students plan what they want to appear on each page of their digital story.

Here is a link with some graphic organizers:

http://storykeepers.wikispaces.com/StoryBoarding

If students are working in pairs or a small group sharing one device, you'll want to make sure they have a plan for who will record the narration for each page or have specific roles designated for each student. Giving specific jobs for group work is helpful for both the students and the teacher in understanding what is being learned and also to make sure everyone is active in the task.

When the digital story is complete students can then publish their creation by simply copying the link and posting it on any form of social media for the class, school, or world to see!!