Digital Storytelling

The more skilled we become with computers the more new ways we learn how to do different things. Instead of watching shows on the television, people can now watch them on their computers. Instead of people going to class, they can take online classes. What we learned about this week is similar. Digital storytelling is the practice of using computer-based tools to tell stories. Instead of people writing in their journals, or keeping photo albums of events, they can make digital stories online. These stories can contain pictures, music, and words to make your story come alive. Cogdogroo.com gives examples of many different websites you can visit in order to make a video. In class, I visited animoto.com and made my own video about my trip to Halloween Horror Nights a few weeks ago. It literally took about 5 minutes to create, and was very easy. I had never made a video before, so I was worried it might be difficult, but it really was not. If there are people who need help, there is an organization called the Center for Digital Storytelling. They are an international nonprofit training, project development, and research organization that helps youth and adults around the world with their digital storytelling.They not only work to help individuals, but they want to help communities, on a large-scale basis, so that way the community can learn through watching their digital stories. 

This video explains what digital storytelling is, through a digital story. It uses a recorded voice-over, pictures, and music. It explains how digital stories can be created by anyone who has a computer. The video also gives you tips on how to start making one. The first step is to create you story, and keep it brief. Then add some pictures, music, and maybe some sound effects. Lastly, you want to add in titles, and transitions. Anybody is capable of creating a digital story, and there are plenty of websites, and people who can help.

The people who could help the most, if they learn how to do it properly, are teachers. If all teachers knew how to work with technology, and be able to create digital stories for their students, they would learn how to do it for themselves. Teachers could assign a class project to create a digital story of their winter vacation, or a school field trip. I would need to know how to guide my students through the process of making the video. Not only can I teach them how to make their own videos, but I can teach my own lessons through videos. I am positive that watching a digital story about history is way more interesting than reading a history book.