CTE Home >> Programs >> Instructional Technology Programs >> Digital Storytelling >> Program Overview

The CTE Digital Storytelling Program (DST)
– August 9, 10 & 11 (12th optional), 2011

Program Overview

The DST program consists of three full days (with an optional 4th day) of sequenced sessions designed to combine an introduction to concepts, discussion and hands-on practice. Some advanced preparation (and possibly some homework) will be required of participants in order to take advantage of the limited time to complete activities and produce their own digital story by the end of the scheduled sessions.

Program sessions are from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on August 9, 10 & 11 (12th optional), 2011. Below is brief overview of each day:

(Day 1) Tuesday, August 9, 2011

8:30 AM – 10:15 AM (Session 1)

• Welcome and overview of the program schedule
• Overview of DST, viewing examples of digital stories and discussing the importance of clear, concise narrative, script writing and the power of images to convey story.
   

  Overview of Session 1
  Introduction to Digital Storytelling

  During this session, we will look as some examples of digital stories, provide an overview of a process for creating your own personal narrative as digital story(ies) and help faculty begin to explore how DST might work in their discipline/content area, such as sharing experiences, histories and ideas. We will discuss the process of sharing stories in a story circle as preparation for engaging in that exercise in an upcoming session. We will consider what it means to use the power narrative form, visual images, transitions and sound to transform a story into a digital format for delivery in a 3 to 4 minute video.

  Preparation for Next Session

  Be ready to participate in a story circle and verbally tell your story as a personal narrative, which reflects some aspect of your own teaching and learning. Note that each participant will be limited to 10 minutes to share their own personal narrative and then invite 5 minutes of feedback from other participants.

  Resources

  The instructor will provide:

  • Examples of digital stories
  • Short clips which talk about the importance of writing a short, concise story and the need for editing
  • Links to other stories and online resources.
  
  

10:15 – 10:30 Break

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Session 2)

• Participants will share their initial stories in a "story circle", after which they participate in discussion to refine their story as a script.
   

  Overview of Session 2
  Participation in a Story Circle

  Story circles, just as the name implies, are made up of a group of people who gather in a circle to share their stories. Engagement in a story circle can be an intensely personal and emotional experience and successful work in this exercise relies on trust of those in the circle to listen deeply and when asked, share their comments in a positive and constructive manner. In this session, each person will orally share their own personal narrative about some aspect of their own teaching and learning, which they intend to transform into a digital story during this workshop. Each participant will be limited to10 minutes to share their own personal narrative and then invite 5 minutes of feedback from other participants. This session will encourage deep listening and provide each participant with valuable feedback, which will help in editing their original draft into a script of 250 - 300 words.

  Participants should

  Take notes to record feedback on your story and on the stories of others. Reflect upon feedback from the story circle. Identify the key elements of your story and consider ideas expressed in the overall discussion, which may be used to enhance your work. This will help you begin to refine your script and think about 5 - 20 visual images, which represent your key elements and can convey action, mood, etc. and add meaning to your story.

  Resources

  • Your script
  • Feedback from others
  • Personal notes
  
  
  

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – Lunch

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM (Session 3)
Script Development

• View “Story Circle” as one approach to telling a story and reflect on the story circle experience
• 20 minute exercise (tell your story in 250-300 words)
• Brief consultation with CTE staff as needed
   

  Overview of Session 3
  Script Development

  This session will provide an opportunity to reflect on the story circle experience and see one example of the transition of a story into a short digital story.

  Script Development Activity

  Participants will engage in an exercise that should enable them to condense their story into 250-300 words.

  Participants Should

  • Identify key elements in your individual story
  • Begin to think about how images and sounds might be used to condense the script
  • Participate in an exercise to help reduce the script to about 300 words

  Resources

  • Index card provided by the instructor
  
  

2:30 – 4:00 PM (Session 4)

(some personal time during the evening may also be required)

• Reflect on experience of the day, feedback from postcard exercise & write story/script (final draft)
• (consultation available)

(Day 2) Wednesday, August 10, 2011

8:30 AM – 10:00 (Session 5)

• Storyboarding will be introduced as a production technique and participants will use this technique to guide the selection, sequence, timing, transition of images, sounds and narration, which they will use to produce a digital story.
• Hands-on storyboard development
   

  Overview of Session 5
  Storyboarding / Scripting

  This session introduces participants to "storyboarding" as a means to align portions of their story/script with specific images and sounds. It will become the guide to editing and production of their digital story. The Frytag Triangle will be discussed as a guide to the development of narrative and guide to the flow of a story.

  Storyboarding Activity

  Participants will begin to develop their own storyboard and through this process, refine their script and plan for timing in the delivery of specific elements and the overall project.

  Participants Should

  • Develop your individual storyboard
  • Begin to define images (types) and sounds (mood)
  • Develop a list keywords and a searching strategy to guide searching for resources

  Resources

  • Your draft script
  • Reflection upon the story circle experience

  Preparation for Session 6

  Know what types of images and sounds you want to use – be prepared to begin searching for resources.

  
  

10:00 – 10:15 Break

10:15 – 11:15 (Session 6)

• Intro to finding free resources - Images/sounds:
  • Flickr
  • Google Image
  • FreeSound Project
  • Internet Archives
  • Jumundo
   

  Overview of Session 6
  Intro to finding free resources - Images/sounds

  The development of digital stories relies upon the use of images, sounds and music. Many times, storytellers use their own resources, however the stories and the development process can be enhanced and expedited by using existing works of others. This session will introduce participants to some web sites that provide freely available resources through the generosity of others who are willing to share their works through Creative Commons Licensing and attribution. Searching techniques will be demonstrated and the documentation of resources and file management will be emphasized.

  Participants Should

  • Try a few searches along with the instructor to gain basic familiarity with the sites and search techniques
  • Be able to search, select and use resources with appropriate permission and documentation

  Resources

  • Shahi visual dictionary - http://blachan.com/shahi/
  • Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/
  • Google Image - http://www.google.com/imghp
  • FreeSound Project - http://www.freesound.org/
  • Internet Archives - http://www.archive.org/
  • Jumendo - http://www.jamendo.com/en/
  • Creative Commons Licensing - http://creativecommons.org/

11:15 – Noon (Session 6 continued)

Continued personal storyboard development and begin searching for images

Noon – 1:00 PM – Lunch

1 PM – 4 PM (Session 7)

• Introduction to MS Picture Story and Begin Editing and Producing Digital Story
• Participants will be introduced to low overhead production techniques and will begin to edit and produce their own stories.
   

  Overview of Session 7
  Introduction to MS Picture Story and Begin Editing and Producing a Digital Story

  This DST program will use MS Picture Story as the primary tool for creating your digital story. It has been selected because it is a low overhead tool and it is free and available on all PCs. This means that the majority of faculty and students will have access to the tool and with a little effort, will be able to create their own stories, which build on the power of images.
  Participants will see a project which has been developed in MS Picture Story and the leader will comment on how that was produced, saved as a project and output as a file for distribution. This will provide an overview of the process and prepare participants for a group hands-on exercise in preparation for individual production.

  Activity
  Group work with provided images
  Following the instructor overview of MS Picture Story, the group will be guided through various components of the editing process. Participants will use a common group of images to see how images are added and narration is recorded. Common elements, such as panning and zooming (the "Ken Burns Effect"), transitions, titles, etc. will be demonstrated. We will see how to edit the duration of each image as desired and how to add music or other audio files to enhance the story.

  Begin individual editing/production

  Overview
  Informed by the previous sessions, participants will now engage in personal work, using MS Picture Story to create their own digital story. CTE staff will be available to consult with you during this time.

  Activity
  Personal Work Time

  1. Acquire any additional digital resources needed
  2. Personal recording and editing
  3. Transform individual script /storyboard into their own digital story
  4. Assistance from facilitator(s) as needed
  5. Work toward the deadline for sharing your story in “Showtime”

  Preparation for Session 8
  Continue editing your story and identify any questions or need for help you might have. This will prepare you to get help and work toward completing your story.

  Resources

  • PC classroom space in Cabell Library, 320
  • Personal script
  • Storyboard
  • Collected digital resources
  • PC with Windows Photo Story
  • Headset microphones
  • Audacity audio recording/editing software
  • Internet access
  • CTE Staff

  Distribution of Digital Stories
  Digital stories may be produced in different file types for different purposes. This session discuss some of the options and will demonstrate how to use YouTube and iTunes U as locations for the distribution of digital stories.

(Day 3) Thursday, August 11, 2011 (Session 8)

Work Day / Completion of Personal Story

8:30 AM - Noon

We will spend the first portion of the session addressing any questions about materials covered during the first two days and then participants will work individually to edit and produce a completed story by the end of the day. Group and individual consultation/guidance will be provided as appropriate.

Noon - 1:00 PM - Lunch

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Continued personal story editing

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

We will discuss file formats, saving work and the publication of stories for online distribution.

3:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Screening Event Planning

We will discuss the importance of sharing and celebrating our stories and we will determine a mutually agreeable date to showcase our completed stories with each other. We will also determine if participants would like to invite other interested faculty (or others) to see their work and discuss our individual and collective experience in the program.

(Day 4 - Optional) Friday, August 12, 2011

 

Story Showcase (Screening Event)

Date to be determined during the 3 day workshop.
 

Location and Resources Provided

• PC classroom space in Cabell Library, 320
• Headset microphones
• PCs will have: Windows Photo Story to edit images and produce a digital story
• Audacity audio recording/editing software
• Internet access

Advance preparation by participants

The development of a personal narrative requires deep reflection. Through reflection, we can often learn about our past and see new opportunities for our future. Participants are asked to spend time in advance of the first session, to reflect on some aspect of their own teaching and/or learning that they are interested in exploring and sharing. Everyone should arrive at the first session with a draft of his or her personal story. The point is, that the development your story should be a personal narrative and not someone else's story.

Examples might be from (but not limited to):

• The impact of some childhood experience which led to your interest in learning and teaching others
• Your engagement with community projects which have influenced your teaching
• The path of developing your personal teaching philosophy
• Some connection between personal events and your desire to learn/teach
• How working with others in various settings has changed your point of view and impacted your teaching
• Working with special needs individuals
• Taking learning into the community
• An a-ha moment in your own learning/teaching experience
• Other…

During the program, this draft will be refined into a script of about 250-300 words, for narration of a three to four minute digital story. Although the original draft will most likely be longer, participants will learn how to tighten this up as they consider the impact of media on the delivery of a digital story.

Participants should frame their story by considering things such as:

• View of learning subject
• Struggling with a concept
• Most valuable learning experience
• Greatest moment teaching