Digital Storytelling

Telling a story digitally gives us the chance to draw on all kinds of images, voices, perspectives, and experiences in ways that can grab attention easily and paint thoughts vividly. My piece for EWYL allowed me to think in new ways about the frame by which all my teaching should happen. It is too often the case that I have stepped into a class in order to explain something rather than doing so with attention to how I might inspire. Revisiting one's point of departure is good for that.

The Digital Clubhouse pieces are terrific examples of how people of very different ages and experiences can create something powerful together for others. Tracy Chou, one of the students who has been a D@pper for years, was a student I mentored at Wilcox the last couple of years. Her pieces telling about the experiences of veterans are moving for anyone, and creating them moved her to see herself in ways that she might not have otherwise.

As one who teaches digital video in both my technology and language classes, I was very happy to be pointed to the Video Guide. My own work with Japanese has often focused on how to get the most important concepts across to students as simply as possible, and the Video Guide does the same with video production principles. Perhaps a project for someone here at KCI would be updating the information to take into account more recent tools! 8^)

I have had students do projects using digital video for years. Recently, a student from one of my 2000-2001 classes at Silver Creek came to an event I was doing, and told me that the video projects were the most meaningful and entertaining activities she did in high school. I struggle with how to incorporate the projects in ways that push but do not overload my students now. Hopefully the EWYL 07-08 teachers will be able to share what they try and accomplish all year, helping each of us to try for something more.