More Digital Stories

Make a video of your own at Animoto.
 
In a previous post I discussed the many ways digital storytelling can be used in the classroom.  Using digital storytelling is a great way to have your students acquire and use technology skills, practice on their writing and be creative.  Web tools for digital storytelling include Animoto, Slideroll and Stupeflix.  All of these sites are great for creating short stories with music, photos, and text.

There are many ways of using digital storytelling for teaching.  Students in English class could re-enact scenes from a book and arrange them as a short story.  (An activity such as this one would demonstrate their comprehension of the material being read in class).  Include Poetry in your slides along relevant images to increase understanding of the writer's work.  And instead of writing assignments, encourage the students to use digital storytelling when writing essays on vacations and class trips.

Include the students' ideas in what they would like to create with digital storytelling.  Have them brainstorm in groups and create a "storyboard" for their project.  If you are teaching History include photos from your travels and discuss the sights with your students.

Using digital stories in the classroom can open a whole new world for many students.  Here teachers have the opportunity to bring cities and countries the students have never visited.  It is a creative way of starting great discussions with your students.  I guarantee they will love using these digital storytelling tools.