Reading Discussion Questions:
1. What are the two specific elements essential for good storytelling that the author focused on in The Art of Digital Storytelling? What is good storytelling?
The two elements discussed in the reading were Living in the Story and Unfolding Lessons Learned. Living in the story requires storytellers to not just tell the details of a story but to enrich the story with emotion. Telling the whole truth and not just a summary. When we add ourselves into these stories, others can connect and feel its importance as well. Unfolding lessons learned gives the story its depth. Without a lesson learned or "the point," viewers may lose interest and cannot make meaningful connections. It's a good idea to really ask yourself what the lesson learned is before telling your story so that you can reach your audience on a deeper level. This is good storytelling.
2. After reading Digital Storytelling Across the Curriculum, please list and explain three ideas of how you could use digital storytelling in your grade specific curriculum areas with your students.
I really loved the idea of using digital stories for myths. In 5th grade, we study ancient Americans and the legends that were used to explain things in the natural world. Usually I have students write an "origin" for a modern thing like a cd player, ipod or shopping mall. Having students do this digitally might help them be more invested and put more effort into it.
Another idea I had was to do a docudrama for social studies. Students could pretend to be one of the founding fathers interviewing a more recent president about the current state of the union and the changes that have taken place in the years between.
The third idea I had was for science. Students can research an element and then present as if they were that element, highlighting its contribution to the world and some of its by products.
1. What are the two specific elements essential for good storytelling that the author focused on in The Art of Digital Storytelling? What is good storytelling?
The two elements discussed in the reading were Living in the Story and Unfolding Lessons Learned. Living in the story requires storytellers to not just tell the details of a story but to enrich the story with emotion. Telling the whole truth and not just a summary. When we add ourselves into these stories, others can connect and feel its importance as well. Unfolding lessons learned gives the story its depth. Without a lesson learned or "the point," viewers may lose interest and cannot make meaningful connections. It's a good idea to really ask yourself what the lesson learned is before telling your story so that you can reach your audience on a deeper level. This is good storytelling.
2. After reading Digital Storytelling Across the Curriculum, please list and explain three ideas of how you could use digital storytelling in your grade specific curriculum areas with your students.
I really loved the idea of using digital stories for myths. In 5th grade, we study ancient Americans and the legends that were used to explain things in the natural world. Usually I have students write an "origin" for a modern thing like a cd player, ipod or shopping mall. Having students do this digitally might help them be more invested and put more effort into it.
Another idea I had was to do a docudrama for social studies. Students could pretend to be one of the founding fathers interviewing a more recent president about the current state of the union and the changes that have taken place in the years between.
The third idea I had was for science. Students can research an element and then present as if they were that element, highlighting its contribution to the world and some of its by products.