Digital Storytelling
Infusing Writing with Technology
Creativity is only a click away...
Today's internet provides students will a tremendous amount of potential for creativity. Digital Storytelling is no different. While this presentation will focus on Storyjumper, other sites will be covered that might help spark creativity as well.
Agenda
Introduction
- How do you think storytelling can help enrich the curriculum in your subject area?
Storyjumper - Devin Gorman
- Introduction to Storyjumper
- Walkthrough of features
- Preview of Student Samples
Alternative Web and Desktop Programs for Digital Storytelling - Chris Brockman
- Zimmer Twins
- Toon Doo
- Storyjumper
- Windows Movie Maker
- Walkthrough of one or more applications
Exploration Time
Closing Questions
Storyjumper
Geared specifically towards Elementary students, Storyjumper allows students to create a digital book of their own creation. In a balanced mix between creativity and literacy, students are able to bring to life the ideas that they would like to include in a polished, yet elementary friendly, storybook.
Zimmer Twins
Geared for intermediate and middle school users, Zimmer Twins allows students to tell an interactive story using the predermined characters of Eva and Edgar Zimmer as well as their pet cat. Extremly interactive with a humerous twist, Zimmer Twins is a subscription based website and is not quite as multi-linear as Storyjumper, but is geared for older students.
Storybird
Storybird is perhaps the best Digital Storytelling application available, providing professional artwork the user can build a story around. This is a perfect application to teach the connection between literacy and images or how a story builds through different stages. However, this is likely too difficult for mosts elementary school students to use. In this way, it may be possible to integrate storybird as a class, where the teacher assigns the image and the students vote or discuss how the story will progress. For a teacher, Storybird is remarkably easy to use, and produces beautiful results.
Toon Doo
Developed as a comic strip editor, Toon Doo can be easily implemented into a classroom setting for storytelling purposes. The editor develops a product that looks and feels very much like a comic strip. However, unlike Storyjumper, Zimmer Twins, or Storybird, there is little to no educational focus, thus students will encounter purely entertainment based content much more than educational materials, In essence, Toon Doo may be something to recommend to individual students but may become problematic to be used in an entire class setting.
Windows Movie Maker
Movie Maker is built into Windows, so it is available at any computer in the district without using an internet connection. Movie Maker is an easy way for students to combine images, movie clips, and text to tell a story, but it visually based - there is not the literacy component that the other programs provide. Still, Movie Maker provides the opportunity for students to interact with content in a very effective way.
Christopher Brockman
Media and Technology Integrator
Pennridge School District
Pennridge School District
Email: cbrock@pennridge.org
Phone: 215-278-5804