Digital StorytellingBenefiting students and teachers

Rebecca Pacuch3/15/10

What IS digital storytelling? 

• A multimedia explaination of concepts or ideas  

 • Uses technology in the explaination

o podcasts, video, animations, photos, slides, audio

•  • Contains one point of view•  • Short in duration

o 2-10 minutes long          

Who can benefit from digital storytelling in education? 

Teachers Students

 Explaining content Introducing ideas Summarizing information Reviewing

Create projects in all content areas Build 21 century skills Grow confidence Increase achievement

Student Benefits From Digital Storytelling 

•    Interactive features engage students in learning.o Hearing, seeing, and interacting to complete learning objectives.

 •     Learning improves as students' achievement increases

 •    Students use their learning style to meet their diverse

needso Individualized instruction

•  • Motivation is higher  which engages students more

o Students have fun!•  • Students' reading, writing, and content skills develop•  • Confidence and self-esteem increase 

Student Benefits continued

• Dropout rates are lower•  • Higher test scores•  • Participation in classes increases•  • Students develop life-long technology skills•  • Development of copyright laws and plagiarism

understanding•  • Students apply prior technology knowledge•  • Students may work collaboratively in small groups

Evaluation of Digital Storytelling

The benefits of digital storytelling in education are numerous!  Students certainly enjoy and benefit form using digital storytelling in school.  Since it benefits students in short term and long term goals while helping teachers better engage students in learning, digital storytelling must be included in curriculum across the content areas.   Educators can adapt digital storytellings into all content areas and grade levels to make a difference in students' lives. We can improve digital storytelling by incorporating more visuals, audio clips, and interactive features to further engage students.

One of the true values of digital media in education is its ability to empower teachers and students."

“

Shelly, Gunter, Gunter, 2010, p. 308.

References  

Shelly, Gunter, Gunter. 2010. Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom. Course Technology, p. 267-308. University of Houston, "Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling" http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu