DIGITAL STORYTELLING

According to Joe Lambert, founder of CDS, good digital stories have:

Point of view

A dramatic question

Emotional Content

Voice

Soundtrack

Economy and Pacing

• … It resonated with my approach as a "writer's workshop" elementary school teacher, where reading one's work aloud to a circle of peers was an essential part of the process of writing. Negotiating the content of digital story scripts in a group situation gives authenticity to the editing process.

• … Fred Mindlin

• When students begin to feel the power they have, using their writing to give literal voice to their unique points of view, and then get credit as the writer/director/producer/editor of a short film, it's not just an "elevation" of self-esteem but a real transformation, from a fixed mindset—I can't write—to a growth mindset—I made a movie!

• … Fred Mindlin

• “Digital stories are most effective for language learning when they are embedded in a language-rich curriculum that provides varied and abundant opportunities for learners to acquire new vocabulary and structures. Indeed, there is a danger in the use of this fascinating technology: Teachers must remember that the production of a digital story itself is not the goal but only one of several vehicles through which students can practice language and showcase what they can do with it.”

• Rance–Roney, Judith. 2008. "Digital Storytelling for Language and Culture Learning." Essential Teacher 5 (1): 29–31.

Assignment (Your Choice)

• Write for seven minutes to respond to one of these questions:

• What does it mean to be a good citizen? (Expository, Social Studies)

• What is the single most important word in your favorite poem? Why? (Response to Literature, Persuasion, Language Arts)

• Write a process explaining how to solve a math problem or perform a science project. (Write a technical document, Math or Science)