What is storytelling?

Storytelling is an integral part of our culture. It has been the most powerful way that knowledge has been transmitted through the ages.

Story transmits serious lessons, light-hearted ideas, the whole spectrum of human experience and makes us able to understand and relate to issues on a personal level.

What is Digital Storytelling?

Start with the art of storytelling. Add the use of technology and storytelling goes digital! There are many forms of digital storytelling that may combine any of the following elements: text, image, sound, voice and moving images, in a coherent story. It is the interplay of these elements, each of which plays a unique role, that gives this medium its power. However, no amount of digital magic will turn a poor story into a good one.

While many proponents limit the definition of digital storytelling to personal narrative, others include other forms of narrative as well.

Digital storytelling can contribute to the development of many of the competencies we want our students to acquire. It is an ideal environment in which students can work in teams, learning to collaborate on decision-making and task division throughout the planning, production and post-production phases of the creation of their digital stories. These interactions are crucial to the acquisition of knowledge as well as allowing for multiple learning styles. Digital storytelling can be used to integrate subject area knowledge in many areas of the curriculum. Those who can tell the story, understand the subject in a deep way.

Listen to an interview with David Jakes, done by Sharon Peters.

Digital Story Links

Storyboard

A storyboard is a visual script of your story. It is an important part of the planning process. It is the organizational tool that will make the production process flow easily. Depending on the elements you are using (image, text, soundtrack(s), motion) your storyboard will be more or less complex. Will your final product be a printed page, a multimedia project on computer, a video? The output will also determine what your storyboard needs to include. It will include any or all of the following:

• a sketch for page, screen, scene
• text that will appear on the screen, page
• script (for live actors)
• appearance of text (colour, size, font)
• narration
• sound effects
• music
• description of movement
• interactive element (for onscreen buttons)
• notes on props, location

Storyboarding a Photo Roman

Your storyboard should include:

• a sketch of the photograph you plan to include
• a description of the action
• notes for the dialogue that goes with the photograph (who will be speaking and what he / she will say.
• You can also include sound effects such as Boom! Ouch! Boing!)
• notes for the narrative that accompanies the story

It is also a good idea to include a list of any props you will need for your photographs if you are taking your own.

You can download sample storyboard templates here.

	Storyboard for a Photo Roman (image, text, dialogue)
	Storyboard for a Photo Roman (image, props/location, dialogue, text)

Storyboard Links

Storyboard Organizer
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/storyboarding/

This is a simple step-by-step approach to creating a storyboard.

The Complete Eejit's Guide to Movie Making
http://www.exposure.co.uk/eejit/storybd/index.html

This site focuses more on storyboarding from the artist's perspective. It has some excellent tips on how to indicate camera directions from within your storyboard.

Storyboarding
http://pblmm.k12.ca.us/TechHelp/Storyboarding.html

Learn about storyboarding through a storyboard. It covers everything from what to include, to camera techniques (angle, focal length...).

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