The oral tradition is alive in well in a variety of forms. When I taught English, I showed my students examples of the oral tradition (history passed down through generations) in quilt-making, camp fires, recipes, and more. However, I could argue that digital storytelling is also a form of the oral tradition. Through digital storytelling, people can continue to pass down stories to future generations. If applied to making movies in the classroom, digital storytelling then becomes something grander than a classroom production--it is a chance to place a time stamp on a generation. It gives students the opportunity to pass down their stories in a medium unique to their generation.
Digital storytelling is similar in concept to storytelling as it has been for years. However, its presentation is different. And, with the power of Web 2.0 authorship, its audience base is different. Before, a story had to travel directly from one person to the next, over many years. Now, a digital story can be uploaded and shared with mass amounts of users. Hence, the story of one person is instantly transmitted to hundreds, if not thousands, of people. In this sense, digital storytelling, combined with the power of Web 2.0 authorship, is more powerful than any classroom project. It has the power to bring to life the stories of a group or individual.
Digital storytelling and digital stories do, however, have slightly different definitions even though they will be used somewhat interchangeably. ISTE has a helpful wiki on the distinction between the two forms. The art of digital storytelling means to tell stories with the use of computer-based tools. Digital storytelling "shares the story through the heart not the head" says the author of the ISTE wiki, Bernajean Porter. However, digital stories are just an author talking. Storytelling involves emotion and allowing readers to make their own emotional connections--therein lies the difference between stories and storytelling.
Over the next ten days, I will provide resources on the oral tradition, digital storytelling, and how the two are linked.
To begin, check out these great sites for exploring digital storytelling:
Digital storytelling is similar in concept to storytelling as it has been for years. However, its presentation is different. And, with the power of Web 2.0 authorship, its audience base is different. Before, a story had to travel directly from one person to the next, over many years. Now, a digital story can be uploaded and shared with mass amounts of users. Hence, the story of one person is instantly transmitted to hundreds, if not thousands, of people. In this sense, digital storytelling, combined with the power of Web 2.0 authorship, is more powerful than any classroom project. It has the power to bring to life the stories of a group or individual.
Digital storytelling and digital stories do, however, have slightly different definitions even though they will be used somewhat interchangeably. ISTE has a helpful wiki on the distinction between the two forms. The art of digital storytelling means to tell stories with the use of computer-based tools. Digital storytelling "shares the story through the heart not the head" says the author of the ISTE wiki, Bernajean Porter. However, digital stories are just an author talking. Storytelling involves emotion and allowing readers to make their own emotional connections--therein lies the difference between stories and storytelling.
Over the next ten days, I will provide resources on the oral tradition, digital storytelling, and how the two are linked.
To begin, check out these great sites for exploring digital storytelling:
- The Center for Digital Storytelling: http://www.storycenter.org/
- Microsoft's Digital Storytelling in the classroom: http://www.microsoft.com/education/en-us/teachers/guides/Pages/digital_storytelling.aspx
- Jakes Online Digital Storytelling Collection: http://www.jakesonline.org/storytelling.htm
- University of Houston's Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling: http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/
- ISTE's Midge Frazel Guide: http://www.iste.org/images/excerpts/DIGSTO-excerpt.pdf
- Bernajean Porter on DigiTales: http://digitalstorytelling.iste.wikispaces.net/file/view/Tech4Learning+DigiTales+StoryKeepers.pdf
- DigiTales: http://digitales.us/products/digitales_book.php
- Elements of a good digital story: http://digitalstorytelling.iste.wikispaces.net/file/view/Take+Six+Elements.pdf
Now, it's time to get started exploring ideas for your storytelling experience!
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