Today’s storytelling youths have discovered a three-dimensional medium where images and sound merge together to communicate stories, factual information, and everything in between. Digital stories usually contain some mixture of images, text, recorded audio narration, video clips and/or music. The topics used in Digital Storytelling range from personal tales to the recounting of historical events, from exploring life in one's own community to the search for life in other corners of the universe, and literally, everything in between.
Digital Storytelling
Inspires dedication.
Encourages creativity to work.
Promotes problem solving.
Embraces diversity.
Captivates attention.
Piques interest in writing.
Fosters group dynamics.
Addresses different learning styles.
Creates a positive classroom climate.
Incorporates the multiple intelligences.
Two great tools for digital storytelling are Microsoft PhotoStory and Microsoft Movie Maker (the Mac equivalent would be iMovie).
PhotoStory
PhotoStory is a great tool for creating digital storytelling projects. Combine pictures, text, narration, music and add motion and effects to create an impact.
Examples:
Earth at Risk
Coral Reef Ecosystems Photo Story project on coral reef ecosystems. Includes abiotic and biotic factors, food chains, food web and an example of a disturbance.
PSA about Africa
Movie Maker
Using Windows Movie Maker, students can include video, pictures, text, music and narration in their project.
Public Service Announcements Students research persuasive topics, create editorials, and produce public service announcements.
PSA about Africa
As they get really good at it, they can combine video with text and pictures in a more creative way.
Animoto
Digital Storytelling Process
Before creating their digital story, students should have a clear understanding of the outcome. A digital story isn't just about putting a bunch of pictures together to music and creating a slideshow. A digital story should tell a story about a specific topic using either narration, music, text or a combination.
1. Plan
The first step to creating a digital story is to plan the project.
What is the story you want to tell?
What form should your story take?
What is the purpose of the story?
What point of view will you tell the story from?
What message are you trying to convey?
What do you want the viewers to learn?
One tool you can use to assist with the planning is a storyboard. A storyboard is simply a place to plan out a visual story on two levels: 1) Time - what happens in what order? and 2) Interaction - how does the voiceover and music work with the images or video?
Should the story include video clips, photos, music, narration or a combination?
Which pictures best represent the topic?
Would it be best to use narration or music?
What music would best convey the feel of the story?
What order will you put the photos or video clips to best tell the story?
2. Organize
Gather the materials needed for the digital story.
- photos
- video clips
- music files
- recorded narration
- text
Keep all files organized together so they are easily accessible from one location.
3. Create
Begin creating your digital story using Microsoft PhotoStory, Windows Movie Maker, or other programs used for digital storytelling. Be sure to choose the program that best suits the type of story you are creating - for example, if you will be using video clips then you will need to use Movie Maker as PhotoStory does not allow video files.
Review your digital story often to ensure the timing and sequence is correct and edit as necessary.
Tips when creating a digital story:
- focus on the content of the story, the message you are trying to convey
- avoid using too many transitions and special effects
- narration should be clear and at an easy to understand pace
- music should set the mood of the story so choose carefully
Digital Storytelling
Today’s storytelling youths have discovered a three-dimensional medium where images and sound merge together to communicate stories, factual information, and everything in between. Digital stories usually contain some mixture of images, text, recorded audio narration, video clips and/or music. The topics used in Digital Storytelling range from personal tales to the recounting of historical events, from exploring life in one's own community to the search for life in other corners of the universe, and literally, everything in between.
Digital Storytelling
Two great tools for digital storytelling are Microsoft PhotoStory and Microsoft Movie Maker (the Mac equivalent would be iMovie).
PhotoStory
PhotoStory is a great tool for creating digital storytelling projects. Combine pictures, text, narration, music and add motion and effects to create an impact.
Examples:
Earth at Risk
Coral Reef Ecosystems
Photo Story project on coral reef ecosystems. Includes abiotic and biotic factors, food chains, food web and an example of a disturbance.
PSA about Africa
Movie Maker
Using Windows Movie Maker, students can include video, pictures, text, music and narration in their project.
Public Service Announcements
Students research persuasive topics, create editorials, and produce public service announcements.
PSA about Africa
As they get really good at it, they can combine video with text and pictures in a more creative way.
Animoto
Digital Storytelling Process
Before creating their digital story, students should have a clear understanding of the outcome. A digital story isn't just about putting a bunch of pictures together to music and creating a slideshow. A digital story should tell a story about a specific topic using either narration, music, text or a combination.
1. Plan
The first step to creating a digital story is to plan the project.
What is the story you want to tell?
What form should your story take?
What is the purpose of the story?
What point of view will you tell the story from?
What message are you trying to convey?
What do you want the viewers to learn?
One tool you can use to assist with the planning is a storyboard. A storyboard is simply a place to plan out a visual story on two levels: 1) Time - what happens in what order? and 2) Interaction - how does the voiceover and music work with the images or video?
Should the story include video clips, photos, music, narration or a combination?
Which pictures best represent the topic?
Would it be best to use narration or music?
What music would best convey the feel of the story?
What order will you put the photos or video clips to best tell the story?
2. Organize
Gather the materials needed for the digital story.
- photos
- video clips
- music files
- recorded narration
- text
Keep all files organized together so they are easily accessible from one location.
3. Create
Begin creating your digital story using Microsoft PhotoStory, Windows Movie Maker, or other programs used for digital storytelling. Be sure to choose the program that best suits the type of story you are creating - for example, if you will be using video clips then you will need to use Movie Maker as PhotoStory does not allow video files.
Review your digital story often to ensure the timing and sequence is correct and edit as necessary.
Tips when creating a digital story:
- focus on the content of the story, the message you are trying to convey
- avoid using too many transitions and special effects
- narration should be clear and at an easy to understand pace
- music should set the mood of the story so choose carefully