What is Digital Storytelling
Most basically, a digital story is a short (3-5 minute) movie which uses images, voice, and music to tell a story. There are a variety of media that can be used to create digital stories and a variety of reasons for creating them. We have taken our cue about what digital storytelling is from Joe Lambert of the Center for Digital Storytelling. In particular: "What best describes our approach is its emphasis on personal voice and facilitative teaching methods."
Digital Storytelling is a way of talking about something that conveys not only information, but emotion and significance as well. We have taken an interest in creating stories because we see it as a whole new way of talking about ourselves. In the age of the "disappearing book" and the emergence of technology in our buildings, it is a new way to communicate what we do, who we are, and why we care.
Why Tell Stories?
Stories are the bedrock of every culture. They help define a nation, a tribe, a community, a profession. They tell its history, they convey it's wisdom and perspective. Stories allow us to understand someone else's experiences in a deeply personal way, creating empathy. Stories can help us care about something we might not otherwise care about.
In academics, stories provide affective learning that can lead the learner to a desire for more cognitive learning. It takes a deep understanding of a thing to tell your own story about it. Hearing someone else's story, can make you care more about a thing. Stories can provide unique ways of building community in your own discipline, or in reaching out to other disciplines.
Storytelling is a valued method of communication in a variety of academic fields and professional venues. View this selected
Bibliography/Webliography (pdf) if you are interested in knowing more.