Digital+Story+Telling

Digital Learning Coordinator International Grammar School
 * Mike Hobson **

After a short stint in the design industry I flipped away from the dark side of the force to teach Design and Technology in a range of schools. As part of this I became fascinated with the way students can use powerful digital tools to CREATE. To create is a thing of beauty. I now work integrating technology at my school from K to 12. In reality I just get to play with all the cool toys, everyday, all day. Don't tell anyone.

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Over the last decade or so powerful digital tools have gone from the providence of skilful industry experts into the hands of all of us. To see anyone edit video, manipulate images, create graphics, animations and so on all with minimum skill but maximum impact is quite brilliant. But what place does this have in learning? And how do teachers manage; students/learning/technology/expensive equipment/time..... Hope we can find you some answers and give you some skills.
 * What do I hope you will get out of this workshop? **
 * Workshop outline**:


 * Digital Story telling:**

The form you choose is up to you: info graphics video, animation, audio, podcasts......What you choose depends on what you want to say, who is your audience and what expertise you want to use. //**NOTE: None of the videos show here were made by me. ALL were made by teachers [and their students!] just like you!!**//
 * What can digital story telling look like?**
 * DST to consolidate knowledge - Students can take a topic and explain it. See example about the Life cycle of a Caterpillar.
 * DST to construct a point of view - See example year 9 Science project where students use video to explore Climate Change. This project required students to construct an argument, either for or against, climate change.
 * DST to communicate - These can be both narrative or documentary in style.
 * DST to collaborate - Video especially really needs a team approach. What is great to do is to all shoot the footage and then everyone edits a copy of the footage by themselves.
 * DST in providing an alternative voice - For students who either need to be heard or struggle with traditional school formats DST gives them a way for them to to express themselves in a form that excites them.
 * DST to be creatively expressive - Have a look at an iBook, The Happy Prince, produced by music students and Samuel Wright @wrightstufmusic This example draws together creative stimulus [the story], creative expression [the music] and a creative and real way of presenting to students.
 * Tips and tricks**
 * How to get quality video without taking every lesson for 2 terms. Don't film anything! Get the students to use shared collection of resources that are on topic. Provide video, still images and audio for students to use. They are then forced to make choices and the the time waster of running around the school is eliminated.
 * Stop motion animation. The easiest I have found is Quicktime Pro Stop motion tip: If you are making models with lego or simliar get the students to construct the models and then film taking apart. Then reverse the footage. Lots quicker.
 * Tools of the trade: green screen [Find a room and paint it!], copy stands
 * Tools to support DST: Celtx, Storybird
 * New toys: iPads and digital storytelling. From the daft [Action Movie Fx] to the mildly useful [VideoFx Live] to the powerful [Pinnacle Studio] this is a rapidly changing area.
 * Practical experiences**
 * Premiere Pro, an advanced video editing application. Find tutorials HERE

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