Telling Your Story Through Digital Storytelling

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I enjoyed reading the article "7 things you should know about Digital Storytelling", by EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative. I originally had no idea what digital storytelling was, but I feel that  the definition that was given in the article was very informative. That is that, "digital storytelling is the practice of combining narrative with digital content, including images, sound, and video, to create a short movie, typically with a strong emotional component". I have seen different kinds of various digital stories without even realizing that they were forms of digital storytelling. I think in a world where technology is continuously growing at a rapid pace, this format of storytelling can be beneficial to use as teachers. Many times we play long movies or documentaries, but we can no use digital storytelling to convey information to students. In the article, they state that, "digital stories can be instructional, persuasive, historical, or reflective". This means that teachers could use them in a variety of contexts and even give students the opportunity to create their own as well. When creating a digital story, the article says, "a digital story typically begins with a script. The storyteller then assembles rich media to support the ideas and emotions in that script, including music or other audio effects, personal or public-
domain images, animations or video, and other electronic elements". I believe that students have become very creative and innovative with their technology uses. Every time I work with someone on a computer, I always feel that I am learning something new to use or do on the internet. Digital storytelling can be used in a variety of ways, and can "let students express themselves not only with their own words but also in their own voices, fostering a sense of individuality and of “owning” their creations". It is important for us as teachers to provide our students with a learner centered environment. When students take their learning into their own hands, they are able to explore and create in a positive environment.

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The website "The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling" provided a list of 7 elements of Digital Storytelling that I believed to be beneficial for those who were planning to create their own digital stories. When having students create their stories, it would be useful to go over these elements and why they are important to incorporate in to their stories. The 7 elements are; "1. Point of View (what is the main point of the story and what is the perspective of the author?), 2. A Dynamic Question (a key question that keeps the viewer's attention and will be answered by the end of the story), 3. Emotional Content (serious issues that come alive in a personal and powerful way and connects the audience to the story), 4. The Gift of Your Voice (a way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context), 5. The Power of the Soundtrack (music or other sounds that support and embellish the story), 6. Economy (Using just enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer), 7. Pacing (the rhythm of the story and how slowly or quickly it progresses." Going over these elements could be a useful lesson for students.