1. Using Digital Storytelling to Strengthen Informational Writing
Jean K. Martin
University of West Georgia

2. Target Audience Teachers of students in Grades 3-5 Classroom
Special Education
EIP
ESOL

3. Assumptions regarding Audience …
Familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint and Word
Know how to move images, sounds, and documents into folders
Have completed in-service on Creating Storyboards or have prior experience
Have completed in-service on Audacity – comfortable recording narration and exporting clips to MP3 files

4. Learning Objectives Why? Writing & Digital Story Telling
Correlation of two expressive communications media
Apply research skills
Strengthen communication skills
Apply informational writing standards to digital story telling
How? MovieMaker
Open a new project
Create title slides – beginning and title overlay
Import images
Import sound
Work in both storyboard and timeline views
Publish sample

5. Why Digital Storytelling?

6. Integrated Information Project
Content Area GPS
ELA Informational Writing Standards
Digital Storytelling

7. Informational Writing Components
Research
Use multiple sources
Organization
Select appropriate method
Content
Include appropriate information

8. Non-linear Process …

9. Audacity – Recording narration
Digital Storytelling
Storyboard
Plan
Organize
Software
Windows MovieMaker
Audacity – Recording narration
Digital Resources
Images
Sounds

10. Informational Project Steps
Research Topic
Select Images
Create
Storyboard
Create MovieMaker Project
Publish Project

11. What are the standards?

12. Informational Writing Standards? (GPS)
Research
Organization
Content of Message

13. GPS: ELA Informational Writing
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Research
f. Uses a variety of resources (encyclopedia, Internet, books) to research and share information on a topic.
g. Draws from more than one source of information such as speakers, books, newspapers, and online materials.

14. GPS: ELA Informational Writing
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Organization
e. Uses organizational structures for conveying information (chronological order, cause and effect, similarities and differences, questions and answers).
c. Creates an organizing structure appropriate to a specific purpose, audience, and context.

15. GPS: ELA Informational Writing
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Content
a. Captures a reader’s interest by setting a purpose and developing a point of view.
b. Sustains a focused topic.
c. Includes the appropriate purpose, expectations, and length for the audience and the genre.
d. Includes relevant examples, facts, anecdotes, and details.
a. Engages the reader by establishing a context, creating a speaker’s voice, and otherwise developing reader interest.
b. Frames a central question about an issue or situation.
c. Creates an organizing structure appropriate to a specific purpose, audience, and context.
d. Includes appropriate facts and details.
e. Excludes extraneous details and inappropriate information.
f. Uses a range of appropriate strategies, such as providing facts and details, describing or analyzing the subject, and narrating a relevant anecdote.
b. Develops a controlling idea that conveys a perspective on a subject.

16. Student Technology Standards?(NETS•S)
1. Creativity and Innovation
5. Digital Citizenship
6. Technology Operations and Concepts
ISTE® National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS•S)
ISTE® is a registered trademark of the International Society for Technology in Education.

17. Digital Storytelling & Informational Writing
Reinforce the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing)
Teach components of informational writing including research using sources outlined in grade-level ELA GPS and understanding of copyright as appropriate
Reinforce the components of effective expressive communication outlined in the grade-level writing standards including organizational structures, communication strategies, focus, and voice
Promote content GPS when selecting research topic (or topics) in science or social studies that is (are) included in that grade’s GPS

18. And, if it is uses a computer, the kids are engaged …..

19. Sample Project Demonstration
The White-tailed Deer

20. Informational Project
Research Topic
Gather information from varied sources
Select Images
Teacher or student preselect during research phase
Create
Storyboard
Organize information, images and sounds into planned presentation
Record narration as needed
Create MovieMaker Project
Open project
Import Images
Import Sounds
Select “Save project” within MovieMaker until until complete
Publish Project
Select “publish project” within MovieMaker
Save movie to school’s shared network drive for internal school viewing
Save movie to a flash drive or burn to a CD for students to take home
To publish in Internet, movie will generally need to be posted to a server for access through a URL

21. Demonstration Student Project
Topic: The White Tail Deer of Georgia and Its Adaptations
Standards: Third Grade Science
Required information
Research:
Habitat
Physical appearance
Food
Life cycle
Examples of how the animal adapted to its environment
Select images (may be provided by teacher)

22. Role of Storyboard Organizes plan for presentation
Can be created using paper and pencil
Can be created using Microsoft Word
Sample Storyboard
Deer Project Storyboard

23. Create and Name Project

24. Open Windows Movie Maker

25. Opened Windows Movie Maker Program

26. Open new project
Click “Save Project As” and enter “Whitetailed Deer”

27. Import Media Into Project

30. Imported Images now in place

31. Create Title Image Add Text Select Background Color
Select Font Style and Color

32. Click on “Tools” on top bar
Select “titles and credits”
Select “titles at the beginning” and create opening frame

33. Open Tools
Select Titles and Credits

35. Enter text for title

36. Additional information in separate box

37. Select background color for title frame
Click on “color” box
Click on “add title” when selection is made

41. Select font style and color for title slides
Font style: Comic Sans
Font color: White
Click “Add Title” when complete

42. Font Style & Size
Font Color
Click “Add Title” when finished

44. Add First Image
Add title overlay
Add sound clip

45. Put cursor on first image
Drag image to next frame in storyboard view

47. Add title to overlay image of deer
Change View
From Storyboard
To Timeline
Add title to overlay image of deer
Select tools
“Title overlay on selected clip”
Enter text for title
Click “add title”

48. Select
Tools
Overlay Title

51. Place cursor on box to move into position
Place cursor on end of box to lengthen or shorten

53. Drag MP3 audio clip under desired image
Adjust position as needed

54. Drag Sound Clip into place on Audio/Music Line

57. Publish Movie Save “Sample 1” Project Publish “Sample 1” Movie
Play Movie

58. Move cursor to Top Bar
Click on file
Click “Save Project As” “Sample 1” to publish as a movie
(Project “Whitetailed Deer” is still in project form
to continue working on to complete movie)

59. Immediately after saving “Sample 1”, click “Publish Movie” to this computer
Follow instructions on screen, clicking on “next” as directed
Play movie

61. Click Here to Begin Sample Movie

62. Now it’s your turn!
Guided Practice

63. Now its your turn!
Follow Sample Storyboard – printed handout, or print PDF
Open MovieMaker
Create new project named “Whitetailed Deer”
Follow instructions as demonstrated
Save project as “Whitetailed Deer”
Save partial project as “Sample 1”
Show instructor
Publish movie of “Sample 1”
Play movie “Sample 1”

64. Next steps …. Open “Whitetailed Deer” project
Continue to add frames following storyboard in project “Whitetailed Deer”

65. Tips for MovieMaker

66. Windows MovieMaker Project Working Tips: Project Creation Tips:
Work on one computer from start to publishing movie
Create an individual Project Folder for each project
Move all images and sounds into that folder
Save the MovieMaker project in that folder
Project Creation Tips:
Complete individual titles and images in storyboard view
Add transitions as desired
Add slide title overlays (timeline view)
Play clip and adjust timing as needed
Add audio last (timeline view)

67. Future In-Service Session

68. Next Session – Learning Objectives
Selecting transitions between images
Creating the “Credits” frame at the end
Selecting music with copyright permission
Activity - Complete “Whitetail Deer” Project
Optional – if “Whitetail Deer” Project complete - bring storyboard, images, and sound to create grade-level example of your choosing and ask questions as resources permit during session

69. Additional Resources
MovieMaker Resources and Tutorials (including copyright)