Where to start? The following list of elements are found among digital stories and as a result are a great starting point when integrating digital storytelling into the classroom. Having students break down their thought processes encourages critical thinking and deeper meaning – making more out of their visual representation. Digital storytelling allows for meaningful experiences to be shared in the classroom – do not be afraid to dive on in; let’s begin! (University of Houston, 2014, Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling)
1. Point of View: What is the main point of the story and what is the perspective of the author?
2. A Dramatic Question: A key question that keeps the viewer’s attention and will be answered by the end of the story.
3. Emotional Content: Serious issues that come alive in a personal and powerful way and connects the audience to the story.
4. The Gift of Your Voice: A way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context.
5. The Power of the Soundtrack: Music or other sounds that support and embellish the story.
6. Economy: Using just enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer.
7. Pacing: The rhythm of the story and how slowly or quickly it progresses.
(List taken directly from: http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/page.cfm?id=27&cid=27&sublinkid=31)
Students Creating Digital Stories 