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=**Digital Storytelling**= CATNIP Fall 2009 (Thursday, Sept. 10th, 2009) District Office, Room 235, 4:30-7:30PM Kim T., Facilitator

//Understanding of what digital storytelling is and where it could be utilized and add value to your curriculum.//
 * Focus for Part 1:**


 * Activities:**
 * //Join VoiceThread//
 * //Build/write a digital story using Voicethread (including text and audio) that you could use in your classroom//
 * //Use pictures and/or graphics from the web//
 * //Share your final product with the class//

//What is your idea/definition of digital storytelling?//

 * ~ [[image:mini_bookreader_pic.jpb.png width="109" height="124" caption="Telling stories....."]][[image:digital_storytelling.jpg.png caption="a whole new way....."]][[image:digital_video.png width="82" height="82"]] ||

** What is digital storytelling? ** From Houston University…[] Digital Storytelling is the practice of using computer-based tools to tell stories. As with traditional storytelling, most digital stories focus on a specific topic and contain a particular point of view. However, as the name implies, digital stories usually contain some mixture of computer-based images, text, recorded audio narration, video clips and/or music. Digital stories can vary in length, but most of the stories used in education typically last between two and ten minutes. And the topics that are used in Digital Storytelling range from personal tales to the recounting of historical events, from exploring life in one's own community to the search for life in other corners of the universe, and literally, everything in between.

From Wikipedia…[] "Digital Storytelling" is an emerging term, one that arises from a [|grassroots] movement that uses new digital tools to help ordinary people tell their own 'true stories' in a compelling and emotionally engaging form. These stories usually take the form of a relatively short story (less than 8 minutes) and can involve interactivity.

 ** Why use it in the classroom or our lives? ** From Wikipedia…[] “…practitioners use it as a method of building engagement and [|multimedia literacy] .”

media type="file" key="LA.wmv" width="300" height="300" ** Activities ** __//**Always focus on content, then the tools …..technology will always come second to the storytelling**//__
 * Watch several stories and report back to the group from the link provided below.
 * []
 * []
 * []
 * What did you watch?
 * Content useful?
 * Your reaction
 * Did you get the point of the story?

** Tools for digital storytelling **
 * Windows movie maker
 * PhotoStory 3
 * VoiceThread
 * PowerPoint
 * Digital camera (video or still shot)
 * Videos and images from the web, keeping copyright in mind

DST Part 1.....VoiceThread
 * Sign-up for an account
 * Follow steps to get an "Educator" account
 * Practice, do one as a group

** Resources **
 * Univ. of Houston
 * The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
 * []
 * 7 Things You Should Know About Storytelling
 * []
 * []
 * http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/StoryTools
 * []
 * Digital Storytelling VoiceThread [|http://voicethread.com/#u16506.b46225.i241652]
 * From Deanna Wagner, SPED, technology [|http://voicethread.com/#u16506.b228843.i1190310]
 * Triangle Scavenger Hunt [|http://voicethread.com/#q.b44033.i232765]
 * http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/ (Create your own comic strip then print or email.) Example below is from this site.




 * Pixton Comic Strip []

** Resources - digital pictures and graphics ** Pics4Learning is a copyright-friendly image library for teachers and students. The Pics4Learning collection consists of thousands of images that have been donated by students, teachers, and amateur photographers. Unlike many Internet sites, permission has been granted for teachers and students to use all of the images donated to the Pics4Learning collection. media type="custom" key="4349581"
 * http://www.pics4learning.com
 * == About Pics4Learning ==
 * Images 4 Euducation
 * []
 * Blabberize
 * [] You will love this web 2.0 tool!

=Tips and Tricks=

//Need to convert a document to another format? Check out Zamzar at []//
 * Zamzar** is a [|web application] to [|convert files].[|[1]] It allows user to convert files without downloading a [|software] tool. Users can type in a [|URL] or upload one or more files (if they are all of the same format) from their computer, Zamzar then converts the file(s) to another format.[|[2]] For example, from a [|Flash] [|streaming media] file to [|MP3]. Users receive an email with a URL from where they can download the converted file. Zamzar is currently in the [|public beta] stage of development.

//So, you try to go to a website and you get an error message//. You wonder, "Is it my computer, our network or is the site down?" Here is a quick way to find out what the problem is.... [] Type in the URL on this page to find out if the site is down.

The Newspaper Clipping Generator - just for fun. []