Digital Storytelling Process Digital storytelling is an innovative participatory research method that combines narratives, group work and technology to facilitate the creation of a two to three minute compelling visual account of an individual. There are 7 Elements of Digital Storytelling developed by the Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS) in Berkeley, California. These have been cited as a useful starting point as you begin working with digital stories. 1. Point of View = What is the main point of the story and what is the perspective of the author? 2. A Dramatic Question = A key question that keeps the viewer's attention and will be answered by the end of the story. 3. Emotional Content = Serious issues that come alive in a personal and powerful way and connects the audience to the story. 4. The Gift of Your Voice = A way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context. 5. The Power of the Soundtrack = Music or other sounds that support and embellish the story. 6. Economy = Using just enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer. 7. Pacing = The rhythm of the story and how slowly or quickly it progresses. DST Process DST Objective : to (1) raise awareness about the social justice health issue (2) the associated social injustice and (3) provide viewers with a “call to action”. See example of a students DST: Example DST Steps to make your digital story for Part 2 of the final project 1. Write two to three paragraphs summarizing: (video length = 3-5  minutes!) a. Your social justice health issue being targeted b. Why this is important c. Give a call to action for the viewers Write your story - Tips to assist in writing the story - Use a 4x6 index card  imagine you have 10 minutes and only the space (front & back to draft your story). Write whatever comes out and don’t stop until either time or the card runs out - OR this is a postcard. Chose a person you think this story is for and write them a postcard about the story (start with “Dear_____”) 2. Find pictures to help bring your story to life (give a visual to the story) a. Goal = find 10 – 12 pictures b. Avoid photographing pictures of individual faces c. Can use online pictures just make sure that copyright laws are not broken (i.e – that those pics can be reused) 3. Record your voice-over (record YOURSELF reading the script) a. This will be the audio in your actual digital story b. Re-record this as needed to make sure quality is good. (tip...pause in between sentences to help with when you match this to your pictures/transitions) c. Can use music too, but be sure it does not overwhelm and copyright laws aren’t broken 4. Lay out your video on paper a. Use the storyboard template to organize your digital story – place pictures and script together (see example I provide) 5. Find a movie making platform to create your digital story using you.

1. Digital Storytelling Process
Digital storytelling is an innovative participatory research
method that combines narratives,
group work and technology to facilitate the creation of a two to
three minute compelling visual
account of an individual.
There are 7 Elements of Digital
Storytelling
developed by the Center for Digital Storytelling
(CDS) in Berkeley, California. These have been cited as a
useful starting point as you begin
working with digital stories.
1. Point of View = What is the main point of the story and what
is the perspective of the
author?
2. A Dramatic Question = A key question that keeps the
viewer's attention and will be
answered by the end of the story.
3. Emotional Content = Serious issues that come alive in a
personal and powerful way
and connects the audience to the story.

2. 4. The Gift of Your Voice = A way to personalize the story to
help the audience
understand the context.
5. The Power of the Soundtrack = Music or other sounds that
support and embellish the
story.
6. Economy = Using just enough content to tell the story
without overloading the viewer.
7. Pacing = The rhythm of the story and how slowly or quickly
it progresses.
DST Process
DST Objective
: to (1) raise awareness about the social justice health issue (2)
the associated
social injustice and (3) provide viewers with a “call to action”.
See example of a students DST:
Example DST
Steps to make your digital story for Part 2 of the final project
1.
Write two to three paragraphs summarizing:

3. (video length = 3-5 minutes!)
a.
Your social justice health issue being targeted
b.
Why this is important
c.
Give a call to action for the viewers
Write your story - Tips to assist in writing the story
-
Use a 4x6 index card
imagine you have 10 minutes and only the space (front &
back to draft your story). Write whatever comes out and don’t
stop until either
time or the card runs out
-
OR this is a postcard. Chose a person you think this story is for
and write them a
postcard about the story (start with “Dear_____”)

4. 2.
Find pictures to help bring your story to life (give a visual to
the story)
a.
Goal = find 10 – 12 pictures
b.
Avoid photographing pictures of individual faces
c.
Can use online pictures just make sure that copyright laws are
not broken (i.e –
that those pics can be reused)
3.
Record your voice-over (record YOURSELF reading the script)
a.
This will be the audio in your actual digital story
b.
Re-record this as needed to make sure quality is good.
(tip...pause in between
sentences to help with when you match this to your

5. pictures/transitions)
c.
Can use music too, but be sure it does not overwhelm and
copyright laws aren’t
broken
4.
Lay out your video on paper
a.
Use the storyboard template to organize your digital story –
place pictures and
script together (see example I provide)
5.
Find a movie making platform to create your digital story using
your storyboard template
6.
Produce video guided by the storyboard layout you made
1.
Software needed:
1.
Movie maker = Wevideo /Moviemaker – windows, iMovie etc

6. 2.
Free music
a.
Freeplaymusic.com
b.
Freesound project
3.
Additional images – obtain online (as needed)
7.
Finalize your movie
a.
Give it a title
b.
Provide a one-sentence take-away for your viewers
c.
Provide additional references/resources your viewers can follow
DST Resources:
Digital Storytelling Examples:

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op5CjFE9daQ
(the storyboard example provided
was used to create this DST)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=35&v=B5OAY
AlR86k
http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/example_stories.cfm?catego
ryid=4
eHOWs etc:
https://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/page.cfm?id=24&cid=24&
sublinkid=107
Movie making resources =
http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/page.cfm?id=22&cid=22