1. What are the two specific elements essential for good storytelling that the author focused on in The Art of Digital Storytelling? What is good storytelling?
2. After reading Digital Storytelling Across the Curriculum, please list and explain three ideas of how you could use digital storytelling in your grade specific curriculum areas with your students.
One idea I could use storytelling would be to have my students tell a first-person experience from the view of a historical figure in America's history. The student could be an explorer, a colonist during the American Revolution, or a slave during the Civil War. I could give my students different American American figures and have them share a life story. This would bring history alive while I am teaching the curriculum in our US History units.
The two elements essential for good storytelling are Living in the Story and Unfolding Lessons Learned. Living in the Story refers to writing with a personal emotional connection to the story. The author is showing his or her story in a first-person narrative, shifting the lens to using the details to make the moment a real emotional experience for the audience. The key is having the audience understand what and how you feel in the given moment of the story. Unfolding Lessons Learned involves wrapping up a story with an important message, moral, or memorable ending. The author explains that good storytelling needs a "spine" to hold the audiences' attention so that the speaking isn't rambling on with no point.
Good storytelling connects reaches into our hearts and connects us with other people. It allows the storyteller to become a real and authentic person with emotions and feelings. According to the article, storytelling "connects the humanity in all of us."
2. After reading Digital Storytelling Across the Curriculum, please list and explain three ideas of how you could use digital storytelling in your grade specific curriculum areas with your students.
One idea I could use storytelling would be to have my students tell a first-person experience from the view of a historical figure in America's history. The student could be an explorer, a colonist during the American Revolution, or a slave during the Civil War. I could give my students different American American figures and have them share a life story. This would bring history alive while I am teaching the curriculum in our US History units.
Another idea would be to have my students create an advertisement for a product or event. Persuasive writing is a big part of our 5th grade curriculum, and students would be learning how to develop ideas, use voice, and creative word choice as they present an advertisement. A PSA would also work with persuasive writing as well.
Finally, I could have my students create tall tales, which is part of our writing curriculum. This would allow them to write and present a personal narrative, but with a tall tale twist.
Overall, I'm excited by how easily