Digital storytelling involves weaving together images, music, narrative, and voice to create engaging stories. It can be used for topics like book talks, projects, and autobiographies. Creating digital stories requires a microphone, digital images and photos, and either the Photo Story 3 program or the Voicethread website. Photo Story 3 is pre-installed on school computers and allows adding effects, transitions, and audio to photos. Meanwhile, Voicethread is web-based but requires an educator account. Both provide tutorials and support for novices. Images can come from cameras, disks, sites like Flickr or the Library of Congress. Music options include built-in or sites like beatpick.com. More information is

1. Digital Storytelling Using Photo Story 3 & Voicethread.com J. Donaldson – 2008 Instructional Technology Berkeley County School District

2. What is Digital Storytelling ? According to the Digital Storytelling Association, digital storytelling is “the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling.”

3. Digital stories derive their power by weaving images, music, narrative, and voice together, giving deep dimension and vivid color to characters, situations, experiences, and insights.

4. Digital stories can include a number of topics. Some examples include: Book Talks Project Presentations All About Me Digital Scrapbook Video Yearbook Digital Stories

5. In order to create a digital story project, you will need: a microphone to record voices for audio images in a digital format Materials Needed

6. You will want to find a quiet place if you plan to record narration. Verify that you have the program or access to the website that you need. Build-in time for editing and re-working your story. A Few Tips

7. If you’re using printed pictures, make sure you will have access to a scanner. Decide whether or not you will be using music. If so, you may need to check the file format for your songs. A Few Tips

8. Use storyboards for planning projects with students. Blank PowerPoint handouts work great, and you now have a hardcopy for grading! Provide rubrics or checklists for students as guidelines for projects. Use a rubric from 4Teachers.org or create your own. A Few Tips

9. One way to create a digital story project is to use a program like Photo Story 3.

10. Photo Story 3 is a free program from Microsoft that uses still images to create a video. This application allows you to incorporate photo effects and transitions to your pictures, as well as add audio to set the mood and tone of your story. Photo Story 3

11. In Berkeley County School District, this program is already installed on your PC. Access the program through the start menu of your computer. Photo Story 3

12. Help for Photo Story is always available within the program. Photo Story 3

13. Another way to create a digital story project is to use a web-based application, such as Voicethread.com

14. Voicethread is available online, but you must have an account to use the site. Educators are eligible for a free account. Voicethread.com

15. Free accounts are always available, but the site also offers paid accounts for classrooms and schools with some additional features. Voicethread.com

16. The site provides video tutorials to help you get started with creating your first “thread.” Voicethread.com

17. Voicethread.com

18. Digital pictures directly from your camera Digital pictures from a disc or flash drive Creative Commons sites (e.g. www.sxc.hu) Educational sites (e.g. StreamlineSC or Library of Congress) Where can I find images?

19. Photo Story 3 allows you to create your own music You can also use Creative Commons Music sites like www.beatpick.com Where can I find music?

20. Center for Digital Storytelling University of Houston Arizona Learning Interchange Where can I find more information?

21. Directions for Creating Storyboards Using PowerPoint In PowerPoint, create a presentation using three blank slides. Click on File -> Print In the dialog box, choose “Handouts” and three slides per page.