This morning I was interviewed by a reporter for upcoming digital storytelling workshops I am conducting with one of the lecturers in my college. Digital stories are short, first person video-narratives created by combining recorded voice, still and moving images, and music or other sounds. Digital storytellers are those who have a desire to document life experience, ideas, or feelings through the use of story and digital media. We will teach U.S. military veterans how to make digital stories and become digital storytellers; on April 12 we will work with student-veterans here at UW-Parkside, and then on April 26 we will conduct a workshop at Kenosha’s Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post. The workshops were made possible by a generous grant from the Wisconsin Humanities Council.
I’ll post additional information after the workshops have been conducted, but if readers want additional information about digital storytelling check out an article I co-published in 2010. Embedded in the article is a 12.5 minute digital story about digital storytelling, but see a higher quality version that we posted on an older blog.
Comments 6
Candance — April 3, 2014
I just had my students make digital stories for a class I'm teaching. I'm always so amazed at how much effort students will put into their projects. It is as if the genre and the media allow them new routes into understanding the topic. For example, just tonight One of my students shared a video he made about his time serving in The military. The DSt was an invitation into his world. You may find it interesting given the workshop you plan to do with veterans. I'm sure they will have many good stories to share Good luck with the workshops.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rlTL7uNcFjA&feature=youtu.be
Walt Jacobs — April 3, 2014
This can be an example I can use at the workshops; thanks, Candance! I loved the author's imagery and explanatory text. Is he planning on adding voiceover narration?
Candance — April 4, 2014
I'm not sure if he plans to add a voice over. I just asked them to create a "mini" composition to experiment with multimodal elements as well as play around with different software platforms. He may expand this piece for his final project, which is more involved. I can't wait to see the digital stories the veterans make at the workshops you are doing later this month. They are certain to be powerful!! Please share a link or two on the society pages if you can.
Walt Jacobs — April 4, 2014
Will do. I also look forward to seeing more of your students' stories!
Josh Wilkie — April 14, 2014
Would you ever consider using a tool that would make the digital storytelling experience about a visual narrative but also a reading experience?