Tool 7: Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling involves using tools from the digital world in order to tell one's story or impart information. Students who create digital stories improve their writing, show creativity and have a voice with many opportunities for an authentic audience that can benefit from or enjoy the students' creations. Another term for digital storytelling is podcast - personal-on-demand broadcast. Watch the Common Craft guy explain the value of podcasting.


Here is an overview of what digital storytelling is using a similar format to the Common Craft videos.


By creating digital stories, students have to locate resources, synthesize information, and pull many things like words, images and even music together to create the final product.

For the purposes of this exercise, you may choose to use PhotoStory on the Dell or I-Movie on the MacBook to create a sample. If you are receiving MacBooks and have not ever made an I-movie, it is highly advised that you create one during this learning session!

Here are some resources about digital storytelling:
Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
Digital Storytelling Finds Its Way into the Classroom
The Elements of Digital Storytelling

A book review made in PhotoStory.

A second grade group project made in PhotoStory.

An I-movie example about weather


Click here to see two more iMovie examples.
Click here if you would like to see some book trailers middle school students made using iMovie!

For your Tool #7 Assignment:
1. Create a PhotoStory or I-Movie.
These resources are already loaded on to your district-issued computers.
The sample can be something you might use in class, a sample a student might create, or something for you personally.
I-Movie tutorial help. More iMovie help. PhotoStory help. More PhotoStory help. Atomic Learning PhotoStory tutorials (district password required)

2. Include pictures, music, and text and/or voice-over in your digital story.
Each resource has music contained within it, but here are some copy-right friendly free music sources: Incompetech, FreePlayMusic, Soundzabound
You should not use music from CDs you have without getting permission...all that music is copy-right protected!

3. Upload the finished product to your blog. If it is a PhotoStory, be sure you saved it as a finished product--a wmv file or it will not load. If you made an iMovie, it needs to be a mp4 file.
You will use the video icon on the Post Box tool bar.

4. In your blog, write a short post about your experience with digital storytelling. Include how you might have students use digital stories in your classroom.

Ready? Quiet on the set! Action!