Global Learning through Digital Stories Guidelines
YIPPIE PROJECT GUIDELINES
Introduction to Digital Storytelling
Digital Storytelling Cookbook
URL: https://wrd.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/cookbook.pdf
Author/Institution: Joe Lambert, Center for Digital Storytelling
Location: Berkeley, California, USA
Homepage: https://www.storycenter.org/
This book is the bread and butter of Digital Storytelling (DS), as it was put together by one of the earliest pioneers in the field, Joe Lambert. Offering a detailed 7-step approach, the Cookbook explains how each person can develop and express their own personal narrative. The book’s “Elements of Digital Storytelling” is cited by many in numerous DS workshops, and Lambert provides wide-reaching insights on scripting, storyboarding and technical support. This pdf. is the January 2010 version, it is only a partial copy of the book (includes chapters 1-4 but missing the final two).
To purchase the full book: https://www.storycenter.org/inventory/digital-storytelling-cookbook?rq=cookbook
Digital Curricula Stories for All: Tools and Guidelines for Adult Educators
In order to put digital storytelling into perspective, this report incorporates case studies from various countries to evaluate the learning tools that are practiced. After explaining the methods used around the world, the piece goes into which ones have proven to be the most effective. The report also explains studies that have been conducted in order to determine what opportunities are present with the digital storytelling method. This is great piece to read to familiarize yourself further with the importance of digital storytelling.
University of Houston Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
URL: https://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu
Author/Institution: University of Houston College of Education
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Homepage: https://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu
This site is certainly a staple in digital storytelling resources. There are various tools and resources that serve both beginners and veterans alike. Not only is there an introduction into the method, but there are also instructions, examples, and digital storytelling software. This site is different than the average “Introduction into Digital Storytelling.”
University of Wollongong Australia Library Digital Storytelling
URL: https://uow.libguides.com/digitalstorytelling
Author/Institution: University of Wollongong Australia Library
Location: Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
For students interested in the digital storytelling method, this site should be the “go-to.” Not only it offer a breakdown of the method, but it provides resources on proper citing and the issue of copyright within the videos. Since these issues aren’t always included in other sites, this would great to look over before publishing a video.
BBC Digital Storytelling
URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/audiovideo/sites/galleries/pages/digitalstorytelling.shtml
Author/Institution: BBC Wales
Location: Wales, United Kingdom
Homepage: https://www.bbc.com/wales
This site offers even more resources and examples to add to our library. It explains what the method is, how to structure your own video, and many examples to learn from!
What is Digital Storytelling and How to Get Started
URL: http://elab.athabascau.ca/workshop/digital-storytelling
Author/Institution: Carolyn Wilson, Athabasca University
Location: Athabasca, Alberta, Canada
Homepage: http://elab.athabascau.ca/
This article provides a simple and concise introduction to DS and explains its significance in education. The article also sets several guidelines for a good DS: 2~3 minutes long, 250 words, narrated in the first person, uses a dozen pictures or so, etc. Additionally, it has a step-by-step guide to the DS process as well as some tips and suggestions for beginners.
The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
URL: http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/articles/Educ-Uses-DS.pdf
Author/Institution: Bernard R. Robin, University of Houston
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Homepage: http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/
This academic article provides a basic introduction to DS and how they are created. It delves in to the 7 elements of DS as outlined by Lambert, and then explores the various educational uses of DS. Namely, the author explains the benefits of the various aspects of the DS process, and how it can be used in the classroom to promote digital literacy, communication, and self-reflection. Additionally, the author describes the different types of DS (personal narratives, examination of events, stories that inform or instruct, etc.) and how each type can strengthen varying educational concepts. While not overtly instructional, this article is a useful introduction to DS in education, as it outlines the method as a valuable tool for both teachers and students.
Workshop Guides and Toolkits
A Methodology for Digital Storytelling
Author/Institution: Digital Empowerment (DigEm)
Location: Larissa, Greece
Homepage: http://www.digem.eu/
This document 94-page DS methodology manual that provides the historical context of DS and an extensive manual for running a DS workshop. Provided by Digital Empowerment, it has a detailed explanation for every element of DS, including technical, social and creative aspects related to the process. This manual employs a Four Stages Approach (Resourcing, Finding, Telling and Sharing) and as an example, the document provides a schedule for a 3-day intensive DS workshop. It also provides a list of online resources and literature on the topic.
Tools Side: Digital curricular stories for all
This guide provides many useful tips and tricks for the digital storytelling methodology. For those that are not aware, it begins with explaining the method of digital storytelling in further detail along with the steps that the process contains. It continues with information on how to create a digital storytelling workshop and what the workshop should contain. In breaking down each step of the workshop, this piece also provides advice for each step. Finally, this guide includes tips for facilitating as well as preparation notes.
Digital Storytelling Toolkit for Librarians
URL: https://cla.umn.edu/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/digital_storytelling_toolkit_for_librarians.pdf
Author/Institution: Immigration History Research Center
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Homepage: https://cla.umn.edu/ihrc
While this toolkit is structured so that it can be taught to others, it could also prove to be valuable to those learning the method on their own. It explains what digital storytelling is, how to make it, what tools to use, and how to work with the Windows Movie Maker and Audacity programs specifically. It also contains a worksheet that can help organize thoughts and resources.
“Digital storytelling: a practical training to understand the potentialities of the method in a museum context”
This workshop guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to hold a workshop on the digital storytelling method. Seeing how this text has served as a guide to workshops in the past, it is definitely a great choice for instruction and guidance. Not only does it have instruction, it also provides helpful links and resources in order to enhance the workshop experience.
Digital Storytelling Workshops –
A Guide for Facilitators
URL: http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/196448/SS-Guide-2015.pdf
Author/Institution: The Silver Stories Partnership, University of Brighton
Location: Brighton, UK
Homepage: http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/projects/silver-stories/silver-stories-home
This guide provides insight in to conducting DS workshops with a particular focus on reaching peoples who are outside the traditional demographic of education. Namely, the guide has a section for delivering the content to older people which gives advice on how to introduce technical skills to the elderly. Furthermore, the guide has 3 case studies in which DS workshops are conducted to Vulnerable or Excluded people (in this case older women unfamiliar with computers and the internet), Frail Older people (who had physical limitations) and finally with Refugees (in both Europe and the Middle East). Each case study had a detailed explanation of how they adapted their workshop procedures to suit the needs of each group. They also contain an evaluation section in which the participants’ feedback is considered for future reference, giving further advice on optimizing the workshops. Finally, the guide includes other resources such activities to help inspire the participants and a DS release form template to ensure ethical distribution of the completed works.
Digital Storytelling Toolkit
URL: https://womenwin.org/files/pdfs/DST/DST_Toolkit_june_2014_web_version.pdf
Author/Institution: WomenWin
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands and Massachusetts, USA
Homepage: http://womenwin.org
This toolkit outlines a 5-day DS workshop WomenWin conducted in 2014. It contains a wide range of resources, from their schedule to sample scripts and even a survey for potential workshop facilitators. This program has a specific emphasis on women’s perspective, so the workshop is tailored towards empowerment with a section explaining the importance of DS in this area.
Digital Storytelling in the Classroom
Digital Storytelling Finds Its Place in the Classroom
URL: http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/jan02/banaszewski.htm
Author/Institution: Tom Banaszewski, Maria Hastings School
Location: Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
Homepage: http://www.mmischools.com/
This article briefly outlines educator Tom Banaszewki’s DS class for 4th and 5th grade students. Although short and rather outdated (the article was written in 2002), it provides a good example of a DS workshop for young children, and the positive outcome of it. Banaszewski gives specific and practical advice on how to conduct the brainstorming, script-writing, and voiceover-recording processes for elementary-age children, accounting for their short attention span and developing minds.
Travelling Stories: Digital storytelling with young people studying and working abroad
URL: http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/198423/SW_KF24_storyabroad_FINAL.pdf
Author/Institution: University of Brighton
Location: Brighton, United Kingdom
Homepage: https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/institutions-bodies/european-commission_en
This guide sparks inspiration in the realm of digital storytelling. It begins with a general overview of the concept of digital storytelling adapted from expert Joe Lambert, a name very well-known in the digital storytelling community. It contains examples from young people who have reflected upon their experiences abroad through this method. There are also some tips and tricks to start the thought process such as prompts and questions.
Digital storytelling as a creative teaching method in Romanian science education
Author/Institution: D. Craciun, P. Craciun, and M. Bunoiu of West University of Timisoara
Location: Timisoara, Romania
Homepage:
For those looking for a more comprehensive report on digital storytelling, you do not have to look any further. This piece provides details on how to implement the method into teaching and how students tend to respond. The method is a favorable way to present complex phenomena.
University of Athens Introduction to Digital Storytelling
Author/Institution: Bessie Mitsikopoulou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Philosophy
Location: Athens, Greece
Homepage: https://en.uoa.gr/schools_and_departments/school_of_philosophy/
This resource takes on the form of a slideshow and could prove to be very useful in teaching the digital storytelling method in a classroom setting or just teaching yourself. It asks questions that allow the students to dig a little deeper into what exactly makes a story.
5 Digital Storytelling Assignments in the Classroom
URL: https://www.ispringsolutions.com/blog/5-digital-storytelling-assignments-in-the-classroom
Author/Institution: iSpring Solutions, Inc.
Location: Alexandria, Virginia, USA
Homepage: https://www.ispringsolutions.com
It’s definitely easy to implement digital storytelling in the classroom, but this site provides specific examples on how to do so.
The Art of Digital Storytelling
URL: https://www.onlineuniversities.com/articles/educators/the-art-of-digital-storytelling/
Author/Institution: OnlineUniversities.com
Location:
Homepage: https://www.onlineuniversities.com
Not only does this site provide advice for digital storytelling in higher education, it also discusses the method being used in a professional environment. Along with that, it provides several links to additional resources.
Creative Educator Digital Storytelling
URL: https://creativeeducator.tech4learning.com/digital-storytelling
Author/Institution: Teach4Learning, Inc.
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Homepage: https://www.tech4learning.com
This is a great resource for teachers looking to use the digital storytelling method in the classroom. It discusses all the ways that the method can enhance learning, offering many ideas to implement it with various age groups and subjects. It also offers resources on how to get started as well as tools to use in the process.
Capturing Stories, Capturing Lives: An Introduction to Digital Storytelling
URL: http://www.jakesonline.org/dst_techforum.pdf
Author/Institution: David S. Jakes, Community High School District 99
Location: Downers Grove, Illinois
Homepage: http://www.jakesonline.org/
This document provides a 6-step manual for conducting a DS composition class for high school teachers. Also provides some general criteria for what the DS should look like (1-page script, 20-25 images, etc.) as well as an explanation of why DS is important in the classroom. Finally, it gives some advice on how to build your own Digital Storytelling program.
Additional storyboard template: http://www.jakesonline.org/storyboard_top.pdf
Digital Storytelling in the Foreign Language Classroom
URL: http://www.appstate.edu/~fountainca/5530/Reinders_2011.pdf
Author/Institution: Hayo Reinders, Middlesex University
Location: London, UK
Homepage: http://www.mdx.ac.uk/
This article discusses the use of DS in foreign language classes as a way to encourage students to make use of their language skills both inside and outside the classroom. It gives a brief and easy-to-understand introduction on what DS is, as well as a broad outline on the process of making your own DS. The author also explores the implication that DS has particularly in foreign language classes, such as encouraging communication, active participation and vocabulary retention through repetitive use. Concise and practical, this is an insightful article on the specific topic of DS in foreign language education.
Creating an Effective Model for Digital Storytelling in the ESL Writing Class
URL: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1033&context=bm_pubs
Author/Institution: Mary Sepp and Shoba Bandi-Rao, City University of New York (CUNY) Borough of Manhattan Community College
Location: New York City, New York, USA
Homepage: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/
This article combines multiple DS-related research and education frameworks to introduce DS to a ESL writing course. It first outlines the various theories and case studies conducted on DS, and then applies the concepts specifically to a writing course for ESL students. Taking a different approach from the Center for Digital Storytelling’s emphasis on personal narrative, this article proposes the use of fictional and creative writing to encourage language development. Using a design framework known as ADDIE (acronym for Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate), the article details each step for the DS course, finally ending it with the observed outcome and the students’ overall impression of the course. This article is insightful because it takes a different approach from the widely-discussed use of DS to share personal stories. Instead it applies DS for a specific educational purpose, and based on the post-course evaluation, it appears largely successful.
Other Resources
18 Free Digital Storytelling Tools for Teachers and Students
URL: https://elearningindustry.com/18-free-digital-storytelling-tools-for-teachers-and-students
Author/Institution: Christopher Pappas, eLearning Industry
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
Homepage: https://elearningindustry.com/
A list of free websites and applications that are useful for DS, it includes a wide range of services from websites that can generate comic-strips to video and picture editing sites.
Let’s Storytell! Video Examples
URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxUqImBOmsi2npRypPbPrMw/videos
Author/Institution: UPgrade NGO
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Homepage: http://www.upgradengo.ro
While this is not the conventional digital storytelling resource, it is valuable nonetheless. These videos are results of a training course and can be used as completed examples for those looking to learn the method.
30 Sites and Apps for Digital Storytelling
URL: https://www.techlearning.com/tl-advisor-blog/30-sites-and-apps-for-digital-storytelling
Author/Institution: David Kapuler, Tech & Learning
Location: Bath, England, United Kingdom
Homepage: https://www.techlearning.com
When deciding to start a digital story, it can be very difficult to know how and where to start. This site lists 30 resources with various useful purposes. This is a great place to look when stuck on how to complete the process.
Digital storytelling: A tutorial in 10 easy steps
URL: http://www.socialbrite.org/2010/07/15/digital-storytelling-a-tutorial-in-10-easy-steps/
Author/Institution: Socialbrite
Location: New York City, New York, USA
Homepage: http://www.socialbrite.org
It can be hard to figure out where to start when it comes to creating your digital story. This tutorial breaks it down into more manageable steps. It describes exactly what to do in order to develop your topic, collect material, and create the video itself. It also includes advice on what hardware is needed for the digital story as well as links to additional resources.
12 Ways to Improve Your Digital Storytelling
URL: https://www.cision.com/us/2014/10/12-ways-to-improve-your-digital-storytelling/
Author/Institution: Cision
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Homepage: https://www.cision.com/us/
It can be entertaining to recall your own stories and know the importance that they hold to you personally. However, with digital storytelling it is important to make your story applicable and interesting to others. This site provides tips and tricks in order to do just that.
Once Upon a Time: Digital Storytelling Trends
URL: https://thecmoshow.filteredmedia.com.au/digital-storytelling-trends-2016/
Author/Institution: The CMO Show by Filtered Media
Location: Chatswood NSW, Australia
Homepage: https://thecmoshow.filteredmedia.com.au
When first learning about the digital storytelling method, it can be difficult to truly connect with it. This site explains why the use of storytelling is so useful and goes into further detail about various approaches of digital storytelling.
iMovie: Digital Storytelling
URL: http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/digitalstory/DG_imovie.pdf
Author/Institution: University of Richmond School of Arts and Sciences
Location: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Homepage: https://as.richmond.edu
It can be easy to be instructed on how to make a digital story. However, working with specific programs can be difficult. This tutorial provides steps on how to work with the iMovie program when creating your masterpiece.
MANUALS
This document is a manual on conducting a Digital Storytelling workshop. Employing the Capture Wales’ “short form” technique, it outlines the 5 major steps in the DS process, how to prepare the workshop, and what the facilitators themselves should can expect to do during the workshop itself. Additionally, this manual also provides numerous resources, literature and suggested activities.
Firstly, the manual introduces the meaning of Digital Storytelling, offers a brief history of the method and outlines the basic 5-step approach that will be employed. Here potential facilitators can familiarize themselves with the overall process and what they need to prepare for the workshop.
Next the manual offers instructions on picking the right venue for the workshop. Since each of the five steps have varying requirements, the authors recommend a variety of settings suited for each phase. For example, the Briefing step is to be conducted in a relatively comfortable and quiet environment so that participants can focus on the information provided.
Having set the stage for the workshop, the manual continues to the more direct aspects of the workshop, namely the Storytelling Circle. The goal of this stage is to allow participants to become more familiar with one another, as well as inspire one another on the topics of their stories. As such the document lists a variety of ice-breaking activities which would create a more informal and comfortable atmosphere in the workshop.
In the most important section, the document details the 5-step approach to DS composition, which is Briefing, Writing, Recording, Editing and Sharing. The manual explains what is required of the workshop participants in each step, as well as suggestions for the facilitators to help the participants succeed. This section is significant because it provides an extensive look in to the actual process of making a DS, while also giving the reader, a potential workshop facilitator, some practical advice and examples on what is needed of them.
Finally, the manual concludes with a wide range of extra resources, including tutorial websites, samples and templates, and a list of sites to view digital stories.
This document supplements the Digital Storytelling in Practice manual, published in 2012 by the Anthropolis Association. Its main purpose is to provide insight and advice on every phase of the workshop process. Namely, this toolkit contains a “Top tip” section for each step of the way, in which it gives practical advice on how to run the workshop efficiently and smoothly. For example, in the “Finding your Group” phase, the document asks the workshop organizers to consider various aspects of their potential participants such as their past experience with them, the particular demographics, and the technical skills of the potential participants. In this way, the toolkit prompts facilitators to consider the specifics of each step from preparing the venue all the way to the final reflection and debriefing stage.
The toolkit also contains the section “Working with Sensitive Issues”, which is a significant aspect that cannot be overlooked. This section teaches trainers about how to create a safe environment for participants who want to express stories that may have been traumatic or intensely personal. Uses of certain photographs, preventing a judgmental situation and avoiding traumatization are all to be carefully considered by the facilitators in advance.
Finally, the toolkit provides two useful documents; a sample Consent Form to use in workshops in order to ethically utilize the final product of the participants, and a template for an Evaluation form so that facilitators can know how the participants felt about the workshop and use as future reference for improvement.
An extensive methodology book, Digital Storytelling in Practice, offers a detailed look in to what digital storytelling is, how it can serve a variety of purposes, and of course, how to effectively deliver the methodology to each person.
The first half of the book delves in to the concept of digital storytelling, namely its history (as well as its deep roots in the oral storytelling traditions), its usage in a variety of fields such as education, media and therapy, and finally how it has helped people learn, express and heal. This section is particularly important for those who are unfamiliar with digital storytelling since it doesn’t just provide a brief definition but an extensive look in to both the theoretic and practical dimensions of the methodology. It truly illustrates how digital storytelling isn’t just a single-purpose classroom exercise, but in fact a form of expression that has a diverse range of application with plenty of potential in new and innovative ways.
The second half focuses on the more practical side, as it provides instructions on how to run a digital storytelling workshop and offers a myriad of resources. First it outlines the various factors that need to be considered, such as the demographic and number of participants, the overall goals, and what the trainer must do to best accommodate the specifics of their workshop. Next, the 7 steps of the DS workshop are laid out in detail, with plenty of advice on how to encourage participants to express themselves openly and comfortably. Specifically, the manual provides a range of ice-breaking activities which are crucial to the process since it builds the participant community and allows them to think about their stories. Additionally, advice on writing the script, compiling images and videos, and recording the narration is given, as the workshop’s more practical aspects are considered. The final section provides plenty resources including sample scripts, a workshop schedule, and bibliography to further potential trainers’ knowledge on the topic.