Why Digital Storytelling?

Digital Storytelling: Enhancing Student Literacy through Digital Video.
Definition by the www.digitalstorytelling.us web site.

     As we enter the second decade of the second millennium, the world of emerging technologies continues to grow and change. People are continually assaulted by a barrage of new and emerging multimedia technologies. One of the most popular of these technologies is video production. No longer is movie making restricted to big budget studios and film, rather it has become a practice that anyone with a cell phone or digital camera can participate in. While the practice of Digital Storytelling has been around for the better part of the last decade, It has been slow to be used in the classrooms. Whether due to economic reasons, or the fact that educators are unfamiliar with these emerging technologies, the educational institution has been cautious in integrating it within their curricula. However, even with this gradual incorporation both teachers and students become easily frustrated in learning and applying these new technologies, specifically at level of higher education.

     This web site is an ongoing project which is a collection of ideas, proposals, and thoughts, on how to integrate video production into a higher level educational setting. As I am not currently a teacher this project is focused more on my growth as an educator, and my own personal experiences with digital storytelling, as opposed to an actual project integration within a particular curriculum. Hopefully through this project, will answer questions and help guide educators in the right direction as to how and why digital storytelling can be used effectively in the classrooms.