7 Elements of Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling is an exciting way to introduce a topic to students, especially topics they may find boring. I'm sure we all remember the boring science movies from our childhood...digital storytelling doesn't have to be anything like that. It can be fun and creative, and the students can even learn how to create one for themselves. Just imagine how much thought they'd put into a digital storytelling project, and how proud they'll be when they are finished.

If we teach our students the seven elements of digital storytelling, it will be a snap for them to create digital versions of their favorite books, or even their very own stories.
Point of view - they must decide which character will be the central character, which lends point of view.
Dramatic question - they will determine the main plot of the story.
Emotional - choosing stories with high emotions usually brings the story to its climax.
Gift of voice - voiceover narration would be an excellent way to get the student into the story.
Power of soundtrack - if the story has particular highs and lows, music can be a great way to get the audience into the emotions.
Economy - only the best parts should be included, otherwise the story could get bogged down in details.
Pacing - keep the story moving along, so it does not start to drag. Voiceovers can be a great way to keep the pace moving.

I can see endless possibilities for digital storytelling. Students who are shy and introverted may really find their voice in digital storytelling. It brings together all kinds of skills: imagination, writing, and creativity. These are skills that are hard to teach from a book. It will require a technology-savvy teacher to help bring them out through digital storytelling.

My next unit question is about earthquakes. Again, it's not something that can be taught hands-on. It can get quite boring to teach about earthquakes from a book. Hopefully, my unit presentation will be able to provide some valuable information, in a more meaningful way than just reading a textbook.