Digital storytelling, the technique of combing narrative with digital media, into short movies emerged as a practice in the 1990s. The technique exploited the increasing accessibility of technologies for capturing audio and images and was exploited particularly for community and social projects. It can be seen as an adaptation of the storytelling tradition which has existed for more than 6,000 years (Abrahamson, 1998). Digital stories have been described by The Digital Storytelling Association (http://www.dsaweb.org/) as 'the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling'. Meadows (2003) identifies it as a social practice, telling stories with easily accessible low-cost technology.
A ‘typical’ digital story will be created by a single author, will last for 2-3 minutes and will consist of no more than 15 still images with a narrative of 250-300 words (Hartley &McWilliam, 2009; Gravestock & Jenkins, 2009). More information on digital storytelling can be found in the HEA funded Enhancing Learning and Teaching through the use of Technology Synthesis report (Jenkins & Gravestock, 2009) [http://digitalstorytellingsynthesis.pbworks.com/], produced by staff from CeAL and LETS, University of Gloucestershire.
Digital Storytelling @ the University of Gloucestershire
The University of Gloucestershire has a long tradition with digital storytelling. Staff from the Faculty of Media, Arts and Communication have been involved in projects such as the BBC supported Capture Wales.
Building on this expertise the Centre for Active Learning has led and encouraged the use of digital storytelling in an increasing number of different learning contexts, particularly to encourage student reflection. Digital storytelling is still an emerging area of activity and the interpretation of digital storytelling has broadened with its application across the University. It is now used in all four faculties and has been recognised as a technique that combines the use of technology with the benefits and skills of storytelling, e.g. ‘selecting, comparing, inferring, arranging and revising’ (Robinson & Hawpe, 1986), and provides the potential for an engaging student-centred approach.
CeALs first of digital storytelling was as part of the active learning induction. Working in groups students used digital storytelling to tell their narrative of the active learning project they were engaged in. From this start digital storytelling is now being used across the University as: a means of capturing student reflections on critical incidents; for example from industrial placements, as a replacement to reflective essays; as an alternative form of presentation where it has been found to benefit students with special needs or those whose first language is not English; and as a means of capturing reflection on developmental activities.
Short case studies of digital storytelling use at the University of Gloucestershire are available in the HEA funded Enhancing Learning and Teaching through the use of Technology Synthesis report (Jenkins & Gravestock, 2009) http://digitalstorytellingsynthesis.pbworks.com/.
Related Digital Story Telling Projects
06-08 Digital stories for reflection on the design process.pdf
07-13 Digital storytelling for sustainable active learning in an interfaith context - Muslim women in secular society.pdf
07-13 Birmingham Shia Women Case Study.pdf
08-01 Sustaining Memory: Students’ Use of Digital Storytelling with the Cheltenham Jewish Community.pdf
08-01: Sustaining Memory: Students’ Use of Digital Storytelling with the Cheltenham Jewish Community Project Rport.pdf
Further information can also be found in the following publications based on digital storytelling use at the University.
Boase, C. (2008) Digital storytelling for reflection and engagement, a review of the potential for digital storytelling. Report produced as part of the Phase 1 of The Higher Education Academy / JISC Higher Education e-Learning Pathfinder Programme. Available from http://resources.glos.ac.uk/tli/lets/projects/pathfinder/index.cfm
Gravestock, P. (2008) Enhancing Students’ Learning Experiences Through the Use of Digital Storytelling, Phase 1 of The Higher Education Academy / JISC Higher Education e-Learning Pathfinder Programme http://resources.glos.ac.uk/tli/lets/projects/pathfinder/index.cfm
Gravestock, P. & Jenkins, M. (2009) Digital storytelling and its pedagogical impact, in Mayes, T., Morrison, D., Mellar, H., Bullen, P. & Oliver, M. (eds.) Transforming Higher Education through Technology-enhanced Learning, pp.249-264.
Jenkins, M. & Gravestock, P. (2009) Digital Storytelling Synthesis. Produced as part of the Higher Education Academy-funded Enhancing Learning and Teaching through the use of Technology Synthesis Project. http://digitalstorytellingsynthesis.pbworks.com/
Jenkins, M, Lonsdale, J. & Robertson, I (2007) Active Learning through storytelling: the use of different story styles, Locating Learning: Integrative Dimensions of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, ISSOTL Conference, University of New South Wales, Australia, 2- 5th July 2007
Jenkins, M. & Lonsdale, J. (2007). Evaluating the effectiveness of digital storytelling for student reflection. In ICT: Providing choices for learners and learning. Proceedings ASCILITE Singapore 2007. http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/singapore07/procs/jenkins.pdf
Jenkins, M. & Lonsdale, J. (2008) Podcasts and students' storytelling, in Salmon, G. & Edirisingha, P. (Eds.) (2008) Podcasting for learning in universities, Maidenhead: Open University Press. pp113-120
Jenkins, M & Lynch, K (2006) I want to tell you a story, Proceedings of the 23rd annual ascilite conference, whos’ Learning? Whose Technology? Sydney, Australia (December 2006) http://resources.glos.ac.uk/ceal/resources/cealpresentations/posterpresentations.cfm
Lonsdale, J (2007) Enhancing learning through reflection: experimenting with digital storytelling, Sixth Conference of the CLTR, Research, Development and Innovation to Enhance Learning and Teaching: The First Year University Experience, Edge Hill, 10 May 2007
Lonsdale, J (2007) Active learning through digital storytelling, Researching e-Learning for Innovation and Development, Solstice Conference 2007, Edge Hill, 11 May 2007
Digital storytelling as a sustainable practice.pdf
Discalimer: Information accurate at 19/11/2009