The Power of Digital Storytelling
Storytelling has long been a powerful medium for both the creator of the story and the audience it is shared with. Today, digital storytelling has become an empowering medium for both students and educators. The students filling up the classrooms of today are digital natives, thus digital storytelling is appealing and engaging to them. As is expressed by Emily Bailin (2014) in her TED Talk, the digital story can be used by educators to establish rapport and set up a harmonious community of learners. Although the act of creating and sharing a digital story requires some risk taking on the students’ part, the creative process and the sharing of their work can be life changing. Hull and Katz (2006) illustrate the power of both the product and the process in their case study, which focuses on the impact that digital storytelling has on two individuals. This study reveals that when students are provided with access to technology in safe and supportive environments, the digital story can be used to work through personal struggles, address the need for social change and it can also act as an outlet for self-exploration and self-representation. Digital storytelling has become a new literacy of sorts and it is important that educators work toward making this a part of students’ literate repertoire (Hull & Katz, 2006). Part of the power of the digital story comes from the fact that it offers students of all ages and ability levels an opportunity to express themselves creatively. Bull and Kajder (2004) note that the digital story may give struggling readers and writers a chance to experience the power of personal expression in ways that they may not have previously been able to do through the act of writing alone. The digital story is both empowering and freeing.
My CIP Journey
Throughout the time spent working on our Critical Inquiry Project, I have learned a tremendous amount and my understanding of the digital story and its advantages in education has been strengthened. The resources that I reviewed for my portion of our literature review were both interesting and valuable. I also enjoyed viewing some of the resources found by my fellow group members and the discussion that has taken place among my group mates has been enriching and inspiring. Because of all that I have learned while engaged in this project, I know that digital storytelling will be something that I incorporate in my own instruction with my students in the future. Without a doubt, I believe that the digital story is an incredibly powerful medium.
I invite you to share in my learning further by following the link provided here.
I invite you to share in my learning further by following the link provided here.