Digital Storytelling: a powerful tool for learning

I started my research on digital storytelling with Tonya Witherspoon’s podcast which gave me insight into the role of digital storytelling in an EFL classroom. It’s true that pen and paper have never been a motivating tool for Ls in writing. Now, with the invention of digital storytelling we can help our Ss create smth more than just a text. This is the ability to weave images, music, narrative and voice together to create stories and give more dimensions and colors to situations, characters, and experiences. This ability can help kids get what’s in their heads out. The programs that can be implemented are paint, clay animation, virtual field trip, wiki, kidspiration, photostory, and Bubble share.  I found Paint and Adventure stories in Wiki rather engaging. At this point I would like to quote the famous philosopher Galileo Galilei’s remark as “You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it in himself”. This is what information and communication technologies can offer now.

The examples of digital stories on the suggested websites were really so attractive that I wanted to watch all of them. I saw that this tool enabled them to represent themselves.

The project conducted by Clifford Lee and Yumi Matsui with immigrants revealed that the Ss were impacted by the project as they knew they were going to share their real life experiences with an authentic audience. Still another study that revealed the Ss’ increased engagement was the one conducted by Janette Hughes and Lorayne Robertson. I was truly touched by Hilary’s digital literacy story dedicated to her Mom. In both cases, the Ss were given the opportunity to share their identity texts with real audience. This experience helped them make gains in self-confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of community. I think Hilary’s digital story was emotionally charged not because it had images or lyrics but because she had the chance to write her own voice.  I remembered one story I read once about a teacher who taught his Ss how to write an essay telling them to write their own voice. At the same time, his Ss helped him to open up and finish his unfinished book.

I would sum up my findings with Paige Baggett’s list of skills that digital storytelling synthesizes and adds one more skill. These are: researching, writing, organizing, presenting, interviewing, problem-solving, assessing, employing personal and technology skills, and writing your own voice.