Digital Storytelling

It looks like we get to create another digital story for this course. I have to admit, I was little nervous about creating the digital story we had to do for a previous course. I had a hard time coming up with a story to tell that pertained to my line of work (online distance learning). But after working on the assignment and coming to see how this teaching tool could be used, I began to love it!

According to the article "7 thing you should know about... Digital Storytelling" 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." With my last assignment, I really hung on the emotional component. I created a story of an alternative education student who did not want to attend school anymore. I tried to incorporate the emotions that alternative students would face (not fitting in, being bullied, getting into trouble, coming to school regularly) and tell a story of how completing their diploma requirements online would alleviate these emotions/problems. You can see this digital story here.

I feel that using digital storytelling as a teaching tool is great for "switching up" what you normally do in a classroom. By creating a movie for students to watch, they are not writing down notes or listening to you lecture, but instead doing something that they like to do: watch videos. Also, as a teacher, you can be creative and show a different side to your students. It also allows you to be a little goofy and have some fun, which I've found most students enjoy from time to time.

I look forward to creating another digital story, but have to do a little brainstorming first!

References:

"7 thing you should know about... Digital Storytelling." Educase Learning Initiative January 2007. Web. Retrieved 8 July 2014.