Since our early ancestors gathered around a campfire, stories have become a way for us to connect. Pens, typewriters, and cameras have added significantly to storytelling over the years. Fast forward to the 21st Century and enter the world of digital storytelling. Computers, tablets, and smartphones combined with Web 2.0 tools allow us to capture stories in a media-rich setting and allow us to share them with an audience on a global scale. Teachers, as well as, students can use technology to publish their creative ideas, strengthening their writers' voices.
Web 2.0 Tools to Consider: Four-Dimensional Storytelling Meograph brings new meaning to the term multimedia expression. Requiring little or no training, a student can quickly create multi-dimensional stories combining video, audio, pictures, text, maps, and timelines. Students can produce life maps, retell historical events, and create novel summaries. Class accounts are available for a minimal annual fee--well worth the cost. View the Meograph tutorial to the right. Collaborative Storytelling Storybird is a free site where students can create short, art-inspired stories from a bank of interesting illustrations. Known for its kid-friendly format, Storybird narratives are easily shared on any device once completed. Teachers can sign up for a free account, invite students, and track class projects. Poems and narrative stories are just a few of the possibilities with Storybird. View Storybird introductory video to the right. |
Grades 9-12Grades 3-12grades K-2Grades k-2 |