The Art of Digital Storytelling

1
The Art of Digital Storytelling
Andrea Mosenson, Queens College, CUNY ACTE
Convention, Nov. 20, 2009 Nashville, TN
2
What is Digital Storytelling?

• Combines a story with digital visuals, symbols,
  text, narration, video and music
• Revolves around a theme and particular viewpoint
• Stories can be
  manipulated,
  interactive, and
  connected to
  other stories

3
What is Digital Storytelling?

• Powerful process that allows students to practice
  21st century skills
• Share stories locally and globally

4
Types of Digital Stories

• Personal Narratives
• Historical Themes and Events
• Informational or Instructional Stories

5
Personal Narratives

• Character Stories
• Memorial Stories
• Stories about Events or Places in Our Lives
• Stories about What We Do
• Recovery Discovery Stories
• Love Stories

6
Historical Themes and Events

• Explore and depict a historical theme or event.
• Require students to research a topic
• Use informational media literacy skills

7
Informational or Instructional Stories

• Created to deliver information and instructional
  content on any topic in the curriculum.

8
An Effective Tool for Teachers

• Use as a hook to a lesson
• Integrate multimedia into the curriculum
• Make difficult content more understandable
• Facilitate classroom discussion
• Appeal to diverse learning styles of students

9
Effective 21st Century Learning Tool for Students

• Research Skills
• Writing Skills
• Organization Skills
• Technology Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Communication Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Assessment Skills
• Critical Creative Thinking Skills

10
Digital Storytelling Tools

• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Photo Story 3
• Windows Movie Maker
• iMovie

11
Which software to use?

• Convenience
• Availability
• Adaptability
• Price

12
PowerPoint

• C -Basic features easy to learn
• -Advanced features require time to learn
• A -Widely available
• A -Insert a variety of media
• -Problems arise with music/videos
• P -Free or cost with Microsoft Office

13
Photo Story 3

• C -Easy to use
• -Good for beginners
• A -Windows XP and Vista
• A -Can only use still images
• -Effects can be done to images
• -Limitations with text images
• P -Free download (XP Vista)

14
Movie Maker

• C -Takes time to learn
• -Availability in schools
• A -Only for Windows, not Apple
• A -Can use a variety of media
• -only creates AVI WMV videos
• P -Free with Microsoft Windows

15
iMovie

• C -Combination of Photo Story and Movie Maker
• -Needs some time to learn
• A -Only for Apple computers
• -Only plays back in QuickTime (MOV)
• A -Use special effects on images music
• -Download videos to iPod (w/ video)
• P -Free with Apple computers

16
Steps to Creating a Digital Story

• Step 1 Research Collect
• Select research a topic
• Collect images, content, audio and
  save to computer folder

17

• Step 2 Write Define Story
• Define purpose and point of view
• Use a storyboard to plan out story

18
Storyboard
19

• Step 3 Create Digital Sequence
• Import images, content, audio
• Arrange rearrange slides/screens so they tell
  or reveal the story

20

• Step 4 Refine Fine Tune Story
• Decide what to keep and what to delete
• Evaluate the end result

21
Seven Elements of Telling a Digital Story

• Point of View
• Dramatic Question
• Emotional Content
• Your Voice
• Power of the Soundtrack
• Pacing
• Economy

The Center for Digital Storytelling http//digital
storytelling.coe.uh.edu
22
A Point of View

• All stories are told to make a point.
• What message are you trying to convey? What is
  the theme of the story?

23
A Dramatic Question

• A good story has a hook that will hold the
  attention of the audience until the story is over.

24
Emotional Content

• A story that deals with emotions
• such as loss, love, loneliness, courage,
  acceptance, rejection, hardship, etc.
• will help the audience stay focused on the story
  line.

25
Your Voice

• Use your voice to impact the story you
  tell.
• Tone Slow, Fast, Loud, Soft
• Pitch Vary to add emotion
• It sets the stage engages the reader.

26
Soundtrack

• Music sets the mood.
• Music should support and enhance the storytelling.

27
Pacing

• Change pace of the story
• narrative can have pauses
• music can change tempo
• images can be set to enter at different rates of
  speed.
• Allows the audience to concentrate, think,
  maintain interest.

28
Economy

• Use the least amount of images to
  tell the story.
• Selection of images should illustrate the theme
  without being a distraction.
• Too many images can confuse the audience.

29
How can Digital Storytellingbe used in your
classroom?
30
The Art of Digital Storytelling

• Professional Development Module will be available
  this summer through
• www.teachsharp.com

31
Contact Information

• Andrea Mosenson, PhD
• Dept. of FNES, Remsen 306
• Queens College, CUNY
• Flushing, NY 11367-1597
• Andrea.Mosenson_at_qc.cuny.edu
• 718-997-4161