1. Digital Storytelling An Introduction to
Bernard Robin, Ph.D. Instructional Technology Program
College of Education University of Houston

2. The Challenges
Seeking meaningful uses of digital imaging other than the superficial ones
Wanting students to use digital imaging as a mode of communication and personal reflection
Integrating multimedia development into K-12, pre-service and graduate education

3. Digital Storytelling (digital: documentaries, narratives, essays, etc)
Many definitions, but in general, combining the longstanding art of telling stories with any of a variety of available multimedia tools, including graphics, audio, video, animation, and Web publishing.

4. Elements of a Digital Story
Overall Purpose of the Story
Narrator’s Point of View
A Dramatic Question (or Questions)
Choice of Content
Clarity of Voice
Pacing of the Narrative
Meaningful Soundtrack
Quality of the Images
Economy of the Story Detail
Good Grammar and Language Usage

5. Telling the Story Primarily a visual story but might also use:
First person narrative
Previously recorded audio
Text slides
Interviews

6. Writing and Recording a Script
Digital storytelling script is a first person narrative that tells a personal story in one’s own voice and style.
Written script will be made into a digitized voiceover during production of the digital story.

7. The Digital Storytelling Experience in Preparing Teachers
Need for an Integrated Project
Model of rich technology-integrated teaching and learning
Demonstrated power of technology when used to support compelling, authentic content

8. Project Requirements Support for technology-integrated unit
Option of creating teacher tool or student presentation
Planned and storyboarded
Created or located media elements
Option to use Photo Story, MovieMaker, iMovie, or PowerPoint

9. Finding Images & Audio on the Web
Image Search Engines
Google
Picsearch
AltaVista
Audio Search Engines
AltaVista
Singing Fish

10. Tools for Creating Digital Stories
Microsoft Photo Story
Apple iMovie
Microsoft PowerPoint
Adobe Photoshop Elements
Many other software options

11. A Few Words about Copyright
Copyright Disclaimer: Many of the digital stories on this site include images and audio found on the Internet using commonly available search engines. The stories have been created for non-profit, educational use by students and teachers and we hope are within the fair use protection of existing copyright laws. If any copyright owner objects to the use of any work appearing on this site, please contact us and we will remove the work and review the propriety of including it.

12. Impressions of Student Teachers
Found it easy to create digital stories
Excited that tools were user-friendly
Felt empowered by ability to plan and develop digital stories
Could imagine themselves using digital stories in their classrooms

13. A Memorable Quote
“…what is occurring because of that one simple little thing you have done (teaching digital storytelling) is really rather phenomenal.  Remember your comment at the beginning of the training about – would it help if I could give you a technology tool that very quickly you could learn and use even if you don’t know anything about technology?  I wondered when you said that how it could be done. Well, you did it and it has proven to be effective many times over with an unbelievable ripple effect as it is touching special education, ESL students, recent immigrants, parents of autistic children, and on and on.” – a high school teacher in Texas