EME 2040 - Reflection 7

Digital stories are composed with the following important ingredients: images, narrating voices, and music. A digital story is similar to a audio book in the sense that the story is being recorded and read to the listener out loud. However, along with the audio story, images and illustrations are accompanied along with it to help give the viewer a better understanding of what is going. Images along with words are a perfect way to describe and physically show the story. Similar to the illustrations of a children’s story book, except the images are passing by like a slide show and the words are able to be heard. This is great for children who are more visual learners. This will give them a little extra help to understand the lesson or story. It is also a great way to learn how to read when you are able to hear the narrator reading the word and at the same time see the word on a screen. This can help the student learn how to spell and pronounce words properly. In turn, assistance with spelling and pronunciation can also help a student to communicate more effectively. Images can help a student get a general definition of what a word they don’t understand can mean, as well. These digital stories can have music added to it. Music will give the viewer/listener an idea of the mood of the story. If they are at an angry part of the story, the music can be intense and music does a good job at alternating one’s moods. Creating your own digital story can be fun and even helpful when needing to get some things off your chest. Sometimes, it is good for your soul to record your digital story even if you decide to not have an audience. This is similar to that exercise they have often taught us about, that when we are angry at someone or about something to write a letter to that person but never send it. It helps to let out your emotions and get these negative feelings off your chest. When deciding to have an audience it is important that the appropriate context is used for the corresponding viewers. It is also very important to feel comfortable when recording so that your message is clear and understandable. Try not having a monotone voice so that the audience can get the feeling of the story. If you can, practice and record over and over until you feel you have it right. Storytelling has always been incorporated in classrooms, and making it a little more visual just adds that extra oomph! It helps to grab your audience’s attention, rather than just boringly read a story to them. All in all, if done right, digital stories are an effective way of teaching and a great way to incorporate technology into the classroom. It can also encourage students to be creative and not afraid to share their own stories.