If you give a child the opportunity to partake in Digital storytelling, he or she will probably want to...

Characters brought to life right before your eyes. Scenery as vivid as the eye can see. Music that adds both drama and suspense. A child’s creativity running rampant as he or she uses real life images to portray a time old tale. To what exactly am I referring? What is it that encompasses all of these different areas? Well, my friend, it is the world of digital storytelling. Never heard of it? Allow me to explain a little further…

Digital storytelling is a way to digitally tell a story through means of enhanced interactive graphics, video and audio. Digital storytelling allows students to play an active role in the creation of a story, or recreation of a timeless classic. Through digital storytelling, students are provided with the opportunity to use various digital media, such as cameras, computers, audio software, Google images, and so much more. Students dabble in all of the above mentioned areas, all in efforts to create an engaging representation of the story at hand.

This week, we read about ways in which we can incorporate digital media within the walls of our classroom. We read of ways to expose students to the bevy of digital media that exists in this world, therefore providing them with needed practice for their eventual real world use. Digital storytelling is just one way in which we can expose our students to the realm of digital media.

I attended a workshop last fall that spoke of Digital storytelling. The presenter shared the many ways in which we can incorporate digital storytelling within our curriculum. She shared with us a digital story that she and her class had created, collaboratively, with a fellow second grade class. The students recreated the story of If you give a mouse a cookie by Laura Numeroff. Using their own class pet, which was a mouse, they photographed him doing the various things that the little mouse in the story does. Each student was assigned a specific job of which they were in charge. The final product was more than a fun and creative depiction of this timeless classic; the final product was a successful group project in which students learned to work together and fulfill their job responsibilities, as well as a heightened awareness and exposure to one particular facet of digital media.

As you can see, there are so many ways in which students can become engaged in digital storytelling. It is all about taping into our creative side, and working together to create something great. What are some ideas you have for a digital story? I would love to hear how you have used them within your own classroom!