Storytelling corner
Digital storytelling tools in the YL classroom - Part I
Technology has never been as important in our
lives as it is now. It is everywhere and there is no
going back on the importance it is gaining. Its
advantages are numerous but unfortunately, its
use is not yet widespread in our schools mainly
due to the lack of conditions in terms of internet
speed and computers. Still, we have to fight the
best we can against this reality and try to bring the
new technological tools and resources into our
English classroom, and what better place to start
doing so than in the YL English classroom!
YL are like sponges, they absorb everything they
get from us, especially when they feel motivated
and engaged and what better way to engage them
than through storytelling!
Stories
are
everywhere,
within
our
that and not only tell them but also build stories
with them? Moreover, since we are talking about
technology, why not take it a step further towards
digital storytelling?
According to the "Digitalstorytelling" 1 website,
"Digital storytelling at its most basic core is the
using
computer-based
tools
to
tell stories (...) combining the art of telling stories
with a variety of multimedia, including graphics,
audio, video, and Web publishing." By using this
kind of tools, we will not be trying to substitute
analog stories
them
into
meaning
we
will
something
We can create them first with them and then
insert everything ourselves in the digital
platform;
We can ask our students to draw and write
their own texts/stories in paper and then scan
their work or take pictures of it and upload
everything into the website, so each of them
has their own digital book;
We can even take pictures of our students'
activities/projects/work, thus creating a class
digital book and at the same time building a
digital repository of students’ work in the form
just
be
different,
We can ask our students to build their own
stories alone directly using these websites (of
course this may be more difficult depending on
their age and their computer and internet
access at home).
Don't forget that one of the advantages of this type
However, what is digital storytelling?
of
the website in class using the website's props;
of a digital book;
starting
students and us! So, why not take advantage of
practice
We can build the stories with them directly on
of books is the possibility to share them with the
parents through email or even insert them in the
school
webpage,
this
way
showing
to
community what we/they have been doing in class.
Here are some references you can use to start
making your own digital stories or to start making
them with your students!
transforming
creating
and amplifying our voices and our
students'!
There are many ways to use such tools with
our students:
the
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