No teacher or parent can deny the power that storytelling has for children. In fact, children's fantasy author Philip Pullman writes, “After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” Stories help us make sense of the world around us, teach us to find meaning and purpose, and convey information in beautiful and sometimes unexpected ways.What is digital storytelling? At its simplest, it just means using a variety of audio and visual technologies to share personal narratives, to illustrate and present the stories of others, and to expand on creative ideas. It can be a fantastic tool for helping students develop skills and capacities that are integral to the Common Core State Standards.
Students involved in a digital storytelling project can learn how to locate key themes in a narrative, develop deeper and richer vocabulary, and examine and compare different narrative perspectives. They can hone communication and collaboration abilities, as well, and gain confidence in public presentation skills.
Don't let the technology part of digital storytelling intimidate you! Check out this list of great websites for ideas on how to get started with digital storytelling in your classroom!
Edtechteacher.org -- Take a look at their digital storytelling page for tools, examples, and media resources!
Yesalliance.org -- This group (Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance) has a set of fantastic short briefs that show you how digital storytelling explicitly aligns with CCSS for grades K-6 and 7-12.
Shrockguide.net -- This page from ed tech specialist Kathy Shrock's blog offers an enormous set of links and resources, all related to digital storytelling. It can take a little effort to find the things that will be most helpful, but it's worth it!
