Digital Stories in the Classroom

 Digital stories are a great way to incorporate technology into the classroom and can be used as both a teaching tool, as well as a learning tool. Teachers can create digital stories to inform students and they are PERFECT to use for a flipped classroom. Students can show understanding about a subject or concept, present information or teach others using this technique. Any way you use them, digital stories are a great way of engaging students of all learning types.

So what is a digital story?  It's simply a way of using technology, mainly audio and video, to convey a story to an audience. Telling stories that have a beginning, middle and end are an effective way of improving student retention of concepts. We all know it is much easier to remember a story than it is to remember random facts or information that we find un-relatable. Having students create their own stories helps them to sort through information, visualize it and present it to an audience, building their own knowledge in the process. In addition to content knowledge, students also learn how to use various forms of technology from video editing to digital music composition. These skills interest students because they can use them for education, but also in their personal lives and beyond to the world of work.

Following is an example of a digital story I made to highlight the Hands on History class at our school. I wrote it for other teachers to view in hopes that they might start a similar class in their own districts.

There are seven basic elements of digital storytelling as outlined by the University of Houston Education Department:

1. Point of View 
 What is the main point of the story and what is the perspective of the author?

2. A Dramatic Question 
 A key question that keeps the viewer's attention and will be answered by the end of the story.

3. Emotional Content 
 Serious issues that come alive in a personal and powerful way and connects the audience to the story.

4. The Gift of Your Voice 
 A way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context.

5. The Power of the Soundtrack 
 Music or other sounds that support and embellish the story.

6. Economy 
 Using just enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer.

7. Pacing 
 The rhythm of the story and how slowly or quickly it progresses. 

For more information on how to use digital stories in the classroom, check out the University of Houston's webpage at http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/.