Digital Storytelling and Adding Technology to the Writing Process

Digital Storytelling is simply telling a story in a digital format. Why tell a story digitally? Not only does digital storytelling use many different levels of thinking, but it also allows for creativity as well as new ways of publishing writing. Technology should not replace brainstorming, planning, writing drafts, and publishing work, but it can enhance those processes. In the elementary classroom it can be used to publish student's work in a new and different way, or as an end product in demonstrating knowledge of subject areas. Digital stories can be written by individuals, groups of students, or as a whole class. Teachers can easily scan in pictures students have drawn and add their writing for a whole class book, or write stories together. Teachers can take pictures on a field trip and record narration about the trip from students to create a digital story. Digital stories can be on any topic and used in any subject area. Teachers can even write their own digital stories to use to enhance their lessons.

So how do I tell a story digitally? 

There are both software and web-based programs that allow for digital stories. It all depends on the expected outcome. You may want students to sit down at a computer and just get their creative juices flowing. There are websites that give students pictures or animations and allow them to write a story as they go along. There are some great sites just for brainstorming too. 

Websites for creative beginnings:

Kerpoof

Pic Lits (Great visuals, good for brainstorming or writing poetry.)

Xtranormal ($)

Zooburst (Basic Account Free, but only allows 10 books)

Pinball (Great for planning writing. Individual or whole class use. Great for Interactive Whiteboard.)

For more serious storytelling you may want students to take a story they have planned, written, and edited in class and have them turn it into a digital creation. You can use software or web based programs to put their writing into a digital story. Scan pictures they have drawn or have them choose pictures from any websites that allow for royalty free use. Microsoft's Photostory and Movie Maker programs are both free downloads that give good results. 

With Photostory, users can make a slideshow of photos and add narration. Motion, transitions, and titles can be added as well. With student work, pictures and writing can be scanned and added as images. Background music or student narration can be added. 

Microsoft Movie Maker allows for adding photos (scanned or in other files), slides, timing, music, narration, and transitions.  There are many similarities to Photostory, but more options in Movie Maker. 

For Mac users, iMovie and iPhoto work much the same way. The iPad has some amazing apps for creating and publishing digital stories too.

Websites for digital storytelling include: (Great for students AND teachers)

Voicethread

Storyjumper

Storybird (Write a story using the pictures they provide.)

Primary Access

Glogster (Free teacher account, $ for students)

Myths and Legends (Good for teaching myths)

Some of these sites allow you to buy a copy of your published work. With Storybird, parents can buy copies of their children's work and part of the funds will go to your classroom. 

If you are looking to create and buy a copy of a digital story (such as a book your class wrote) try:

Mixbook (I ordered a photo book from a recent vacation and the quality was great!)

Blurb (Very easy to use, lots of freedom, good quality.)

Check out these sites and see how you can integrate digital storytelling into your classroom assignments and lessons today. There are more links and a Photostory 3 tutorial by Jake's Online at http://delicious.com/hethomas. (Search the digital storytelling tag.)