Communication through stories has been common in cultures throughout the world. Most cultures have used oral communication to transmit their history, identity and beliefs from one generation to the other. The earliest record from Indo-European cultures, the epics of Homer, is in story form.
When it comes to storytelling, today’s westeners are at an extreme disadvantage. Most have never told stories extensively. We may be used to reading/watching stories, but we have left these skills to writers and movie makers.
We westeners are probably more analytical and we have been taught to learn information rather than to tell and understand stories. How can we - educated out of storytelling - learn to understand and communicate with stories?
As listeners, we like to interact. We surf the web or through our TV remotes in digital cable. Instead of regretting our students’ disability to listen to stories passively, why don't we try to involve them in the storytelling? We cannot expect them to sit quietly while we ramble on. We have trained them not to accept whatever is dumped on them.
Sean Buvala, a full-time storyteller, speaker and public-speaking trainer who has 25 years of experience as storyteller suggests three ways to engage listeners in your story:
1. Ask students to share what they are listening to as they listen to it: As you speak, stop after some of the major points and say “Let’s check in”. Do this several times as you speak, giving the audience just a few minutes to interact.
2. They can tell their own story but using the subject you chose: This is especially good at the beginning of a presentation. Say, "Today I am talking about (the subject). Is there a time in your life when you or someone you know encountered (the subject)? How did you react to it? How does (the subject) fit into your life? Turn and briefly tell your story to the person in the next seat." You can also do this at the end of your presentation, asking folks to talk about something that came to mind as you spoke.
3. Invite them to create a quick sample or demonstration with your information: Today’s world requires students to embrace new ways of thinking/expressing . It has proved to be quite good to create examples of the items you have just introduced. Students may work in small groups of five or six members . They can discuss the material you have presented. Rather than being passive observers, they become part of teaching each other.
Regardless of the topic, there are ways for us to move our presentation from something people look at to something they can experience. Every time we add another sense (such as touch, smell, hearing) to a presentation, retention of the learning is increased. We must help our audience to take hold of our subject and give them a creative way to interact with us and each other.
What does digital storytelling add to the traditional way of telling stories? What does modern technical tools add to the ancient art of storytelling?
Technology is a practical help in the students’ struggle to find their own voice and identity but as I have said many times it must not be the protagonist of the process. Digitelling assembles old topics and new types of communication making students literate in multimedia. They use three different dimensions instead of just one. They use images, sound and text. The students’ own voice can be an important part of the story too engaging them in the heartful expression of their own creativity. It helps students see themselves as authors with a purpose and an audience for writing , they are in the director's chair. They commit to a task. So it is not just a report of information.
The two-phase process, (engaging + structuring) , implies preparation from both parts, teacher and students. In a relatively short time, approximately 3 minutes in length (always less than 8 minutes), students must tell a 3D story that includes an introduction, a body and an end and has a complete sense.
First of all , they must follow an outline. As a pre-telling activity students can orally answer questions from an outline with a partner. Where it happened, what it looks like, and why it is important, for example.
The body of the story needs to answer several questions:
• What is your earliest memory of it?
• What are your feelings?
• What difference does it make in your life?
• What do you see in it that no one else sees?
Then there’s the visual dimension, this can be done by drawing, painting, creating a collage, or using KidPix on the computer; they must select one image that best represents her or his feelings. This provides an anchor for the story and, this way, the teacher can elicit more information from the student. The point is not to create merely a simple slide show.
Important skills students need to learn: how to bring images, music, and voice into the computer (importing) and how to sequence them according to their story (drag and drop). Most of the times students figure out on their own. Create digital stories does not require a digital camcorder either. Most students use photographs and images that they draw by hand or on the computer, they must also determine where and in what format scanned images are being saved/stored by the scanner software
Students will progress through selecting images, scanning, importing them into the computer, recording their voices, and adding transitions and text at varying rates. They have to evaluate the effectiveness of their text , the images they select, the tone of their voice, and the music that accompanies the story. A model of what the teacher expects from their students to complete must be shown from the very beginning.
In this task peer coaching is essential. Students need to share their computer skills and interests in others’ stories. It creates a positive classroom environment and empowers students’ voices. When tellers share their story, they receive appreciations, then suggestions from the class, and finally had a chance to ask the audience any questions about their story.
As you may suspect, digital storytelling is going to be our second task. So, you will have to consult your wiki “firstdayatschool” and follow the instructions carefully. Again, there will be a page for the task itself where you will find the information you need and a second page to upload your work. Our last task was a complete success! You learnt how to use Powerpoint or Google Docs so why don't you start thinking about the story you will tell and get familiar with Windows Movie Maker or iMovie?
