Digital storytelling is the practice of using computer software to tell stories. As with traditional storytelling, most digital stories focus on a specific topic and contain a particular point of view. Digital storytelling for the classroom will center on using various digital tools to enhance the classroom curriculum.

The purpose of this module is to teach you some generic information systems concepts and skills using Photo Story to create a digital story.  Focus will be on 1) step-by-step approach to "Creating a Digital Story from Material Found On the Web", and 2) how students may enhance and teachers may promote student learning through the use of digital storytelling in the curriculum (See How to Use Digital Storytelling in Your Class).

• STUDENTS: The use of digital stories is one format that allows students to understand information. Enabling students to engage in digital tools in the form of creating stories will help them make sense of, evaluate, and share their deep understanding of the subject matter. As students practice the craftsmanship of designing information through mixing colors, images, symbols, voice tones, music, action, sound and artful pacing, they are in the act of telling a story of what they know and understand from an event or topic that provides a “sense making” process enabling them to deal with a myriad of data details. 

• TEACHERS: Digital storytelling provides teachers the understanding to artfully use digital media in their content for student learning.

Resources

Digital Storytelling

• 7 things you should know about "Digital Storytelling"
  (http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7021.pdf)
• The Digital Storytelling e-book
  (http://www.microsoft.com/education/teachers/guides/digital_storytelling.aspx)
• The Seven Elements of Storytelling
  (http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/7elements.html)
• Survey results on how educators are using digital storytelling
  (http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/survey/index.html)

About Photo Story 3 Software

• Microsoft Photo Story 3
  (Official Website) | (Download Software Page)
  
• Create your first photo story:
  http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/tips/firststory.mspx
• Creating multimedia video files using Microsoft Photo Story 3
  http://download.microsoft.com/documents/australia/education/photo_story_3.pdf
• Photo Story Tutorial
  http://millie.furman.edu/mll/tutorials/photostory3/index.htm
• Royal Free Music for Educational Use (For background music)
  (http://freeplaymusic.com/)
  

Examples

• http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/index.html > Select Examples menu
• http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/learnshops/digital/examples.php
• http://www.eaglepnt.k12.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=1894
  

Module Activity

Purposes: To utilize a a video editing software software to create a movie file for use as a teaching and learning tool and to produce a final digital storytelling video of...

1. an instructional storytelling for your lesson plan, AND/OR
2. an instructional (for team thematic unit) / organizational (for team organization) storytelling

Process: Using the following step-by-step approach "Getting Started" , you will create a digital story, told in narrative voice (begins with a written script), told in their own voice (record script), illustrated by still images, transitions, music with an emotional tone. In order to get started on this project, it is recommended that you write up / design your storytelling scripts (see examples in the Resources section above).

* Keep in mind that the overview videos and class demonstration may not cover every detail of the excercises. In order for one to learn to operate a machinery (car) or software, one must actually use and experience it. In addition to familiarize yourself with the software, the purpose of this module is for you, by yourself or with helps from colloeagues, to try to figure out some (frequently used) features and functions of this software.

Important: A complete digital storytelling must:

For Individual Project

• Serve instructional purpose
• Be NO LESS than 2 minutes in length
• Contain information regarding your lesson plan
• Incorporate written scripts (texts), your narration (record script), still images/graphics, transitions, and background music
• Be free from background noise.
• Be professional sounding (including opening and closing sections)
• Be created by Photo Story 3 or other video editing software
• Be exported as a movie format (*.wmv [Photo Story 3], *.avi, *.mp4, *.mpg, *.mpeg, or *.mov) and titled as "MMSTORY-YOURNAME" BEFORE submitting in the dropbox as well as posting it onto your personal website

For Collaborative Project

• Serve instructional purpose (for thematic unit) or organizational purpose (for organization)
• Serve instructional purpose
• Be NO LESS than 3 minutes in length
• Contain information regarding your lesson (thematic unit) or your organization (organization team)
• Incorporate written scripts (texts), your narration (record script), still images/graphics, transitions, and background music
• Be free from background noise.
• Be professional sounding (including opening and closing sections)
• Be created by Photo Story 3 or other video editing software
• Be exported as a movie format (*.wmv [Photo Story 3], *.avi, *.mp4, *.mpg, *.mpeg, or *.mov) and titled as "MMSTORY-YOURTEAM" BEFORE submitting in the dropbox as well as posting it onto your personal website

Submission

When finished, you should have ONE (1) final movie file "MMSTORY-YOURNAME" for individual project and/or ONE (1) final movie file "MMSTORY-YOURTEAM" for Collaborative project. Upload the finished files along with other assignments to the appropriate dropbox (as indicated by your instructor).