Digital StorytellingDigital Storytelling-- the Nuts and Bolts of -- the Nuts and Bolts of

Developing Digital Developing Digital StoriesStories

Dr. Helen BarrettDr. Helen Barrett

Overview of PresentationOverview of Presentationhttp://sites.google.com/site/digitalstorysite/

What story do you want to create? What story do you want to create? (Sharing story ideas)(Sharing story ideas)

What images do you need to illustrate What images do you need to illustrate your story?your story?

How to record your audio narrationHow to record your audio narration

How to assemble a story using How to assemble a story using different tools different tools

AudacityAudacityMovieMakerMovieMaker

Digital Storytelling Digital Storytelling ProcessProcess

Learners create a 1– 4 Learners create a 1– 4 minute digital video clipminute digital video clip– First person narrative First person narrative

[begins with a written script ~ 400 [begins with a written script ~ 400 words]words]

– Told in their own voice [record script]Told in their own voice [record script]– Illustrated (mostly) by still imagesIllustrated (mostly) by still images– Music track to add emotional toneMusic track to add emotional tone

How to Develop How to Develop Digital StoriesDigital Stories

Process and ToolsProcess and Tools

ToolsTools

MacintoshMacintosh

Write script: Write script: GoogleDocsGoogleDocs

Record Audio: Record Audio: Audacity or Audacity or GarageBandGarageBand

Edit images: iPhotoEdit images: iPhoto

Edit video: iMovie6Edit video: iMovie6

WindowsWindows

Write script: Write script: GoogleDocsGoogleDocs

Record Audio: Record Audio: AudacityAudacity

Edit images: Picasa3 Edit images: Picasa3 or Photoscapeor Photoscape

Edit video: Edit video: MovieMaker2 or MovieMaker2 or PhotoStory3PhotoStory3

http://electronicportfolios.org/digistory/tools.html

What’s Your Story?What’s Your Story?Did you watch Audrey’s story?Did you watch Audrey’s story?

Posted in the Files Section of each Google GroupPosted in the Files Section of each Google Group

What is the What is the process?process?

http://electronicportfolios.org/digistory/howto.html

Step 1: Decide on the Step 1: Decide on the Story You Want to TellStory You Want to Tell

Case Study: Audrey’s StoryCase Study: Audrey’s Story

Stories Created by Teachers Can Serve:Stories Created by Teachers Can Serve:

As a Lesson HookAs a Lesson Hook

As a Way to Integrate Multimedia into As a Way to Integrate Multimedia into the Curriculum the Curriculum

As a Way to Make Difficult Content More As a Way to Make Difficult Content More UnderstandableUnderstandable

To Facilitate Classroom DiscussionTo Facilitate Classroom Discussion

An Effective Learning Tool An Effective Learning Tool for Studentsfor Students

Research SkillsResearch Skills

Writing SkillsWriting Skills

Organization Organization SkillsSkills

Technology Technology SkillsSkills

Presentation Presentation SkillsSkills

Interview Interview SkillsSkills

Interpersonal Interpersonal SkillsSkills

Problem-Problem-Solving SkillsSolving Skills

Assessment Assessment SkillsSkills

Step 2: Gather Your Step 2: Gather Your MaterialsMaterials

Start gathering photos, digital video, flyers, Start gathering photos, digital video, flyers, mementos — anything that holds emotional mementos — anything that holds emotional resonance. resonance.

Don't think you have to go out and visually capture Don't think you have to go out and visually capture a story with a camcorder or camera. Use what you a story with a camcorder or camera. Use what you have!have!

Export Powerpoint slides to JPEG (Save As…)Export Powerpoint slides to JPEG (Save As…)

Capture digital photos with any camera (including Capture digital photos with any camera (including cell phones)cell phones)

Get permissions for using images of studentsGet permissions for using images of students

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Step 3: Begin Writing Step 3: Begin Writing Your ScriptYour Script

Play out a rough story in your head. Play out a rough story in your head.

Sketch out a script that you'll soon record with your own Sketch out a script that you'll soon record with your own voice. People want to hear a personal voice.voice. People want to hear a personal voice.

Get personal. Get personal.

Write lousy first drafts. Don't edit as you go.Write lousy first drafts. Don't edit as you go.

Write short. You'll be surprised at how much you Write short. You'll be surprised at how much you can convey with a few words and some key can convey with a few words and some key images. images.

Read your script aloud as you're fine-tuning it. Read your script aloud as you're fine-tuning it.

Don't hold back. Be real.Don't hold back. Be real.

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Script writing (cont.)Script writing (cont.)

Look for a narrative arc for your story. All Look for a narrative arc for your story. All stories — even three-minute gems — have a stories — even three-minute gems — have a beginning, middle, and end. beginning, middle, and end.

Work on the pace. Many consider pacing to be Work on the pace. Many consider pacing to be the true secret of successful storytelling. The the true secret of successful storytelling. The rhythm and tempo of a story is what sustains rhythm and tempo of a story is what sustains an audience's interest. an audience's interest.

Trust your voice. All of us have our own Trust your voice. All of us have our own distinctive style of storytelling. Trust yours. distinctive style of storytelling. Trust yours.

Read your script to a friend when you think Read your script to a friend when you think you've finished.you've finished.http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Step 4: Prep Your Step 4: Prep Your EquipmentEquipment

A desktop computer or laptop. A desktop computer or laptop.

Video software such as Apple iMovie, MovieMaker2 or Video software such as Apple iMovie, MovieMaker2 or PhotoStory3.PhotoStory3.

A (desktop) scanner, if you want to include traditional photos in A (desktop) scanner, if you want to include traditional photos in your story. your story.

Additionally, if you plan to record interviews, you'll need: Additionally, if you plan to record interviews, you'll need:

A recording device: for video, a camcorder; for audio, a portable A recording device: for video, a camcorder; for audio, a portable digital recorder or an analog cassette recorder (if you use digital recorder or an analog cassette recorder (if you use analog video or audio, you'll also need to convert it to digital).analog video or audio, you'll also need to convert it to digital).

A handheld microphone for audio interviews.A handheld microphone for audio interviews.

Headphones. Headphones.

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Step 5: Create a Step 5: Create a StoryboardStoryboard

A storyboard is simply a place to plan out a visual A storyboard is simply a place to plan out a visual story on two levels: 1) Time — What happens in story on two levels: 1) Time — What happens in what order? and 2) Interaction — How does the what order? and 2) Interaction — How does the voiceover and music work with the images or voiceover and music work with the images or video?video?

A good rule of thumb is to use no more than 15 A good rule of thumb is to use no more than 15 images and no more than two minutes of video. images and no more than two minutes of video.

As a general rule, four to six seconds is the ideal As a general rule, four to six seconds is the ideal time for an image to appear on-screen,time for an image to appear on-screen,

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Step 6: Digitize Your Step 6: Digitize Your MediaMedia

If you're using photos, you'll need a flatbed If you're using photos, you'll need a flatbed scanner. Scan them and save them to a single scanner. Scan them and save them to a single folder on your computer. folder on your computer. (200 dots per inch)(200 dots per inch)

If you're using digital photos, make sure they're in If you're using digital photos, make sure they're in JPEG format.JPEG format.

Keep in mind that your video will be horizontal in Keep in mind that your video will be horizontal in form, so crop accordingly. Don't distort vertical form, so crop accordingly. Don't distort vertical photos into horizontal ones, but realize that strong photos into horizontal ones, but realize that strong vertical shapes will appear with lots of black on vertical shapes will appear with lots of black on both sides.both sides.

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Images Scanned and Sized Images Scanned and Sized

When searching Google When searching Google images, select only the images, select only the Large Large or Extra Largeor Extra Large images images

DEMO: Searching for Images DEMO: Searching for Images in Googlein Google

Step 7: Record a Step 7: Record a Voice-OverVoice-Over

On a computer* (use Audacity) - using external On a computer* (use Audacity) - using external Microphone (record your voice-over at the same Microphone (record your voice-over at the same quality level that you record your musical quality level that you record your musical soundtrack: 16-bit, 44 kHz.)soundtrack: 16-bit, 44 kHz.)

On a digital tape recorderOn a digital tape recorder

Digital= Good Quality but ExpensiveDigital= Good Quality but Expensive

Analog= Lower Quality but CheapAnalog= Lower Quality but Cheap

Transfer into computerTransfer into computerDigital = fileDigital = fileAnalog = cable+softwareAnalog = cable+software

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Speak slowly in a conversational voice. Don't make it sound like you're reading from a script.

Step 8: Add MusicStep 8: Add Music

Choose music that evokes the rhythm and pace of your story.Choose music that evokes the rhythm and pace of your story.

Next, go out and grab the music in digital form:Next, go out and grab the music in digital form:http://freeplaymusic.com Pod Safe Audio: Pod Safe Audio: http://www.podsafeaudio.com/ Jamendo Jamendo http://www.jamendo.com/en/ (Free music (Free music downloads in MP3)downloads in MP3)http://creativecommons.org/legalmusicforvideos/ - - Creative CommonsCreative CommonsYahoo Music: Yahoo Music: http://new.music.yahoo.com/ http://www.archive.org/details/netlabels - Archive.org’s - Archive.org’s NetLabelNetLabel

Find a talented friend to play an original work on the Find a talented friend to play an original work on the piano or by strumming the guitar -- solves the piano or by strumming the guitar -- solves the copyright problem. copyright problem.

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Audio Editing SoftwareAudio Editing Software

Audacity (free Audacity (free download)download)

Audacity Tutorial

DEMODEMO

Adjusting Volume in Adjusting Volume in AudacityAudacity

Use the Envelope toolUse the Envelope tool

Click on audio and drag Click on audio and drag down to lower volumedown to lower volume

Step 9: Edit Your Story Step 9: Edit Your Story (with video editing (with video editing

program)program)Import all images, video, your voice-over, and musical Import all images, video, your voice-over, and musical elementselements

Lay your narration track onto the timeline firstLay your narration track onto the timeline first

Add your images to match your narrationAdd your images to match your narration

Create an initial rough cut before adding transitions or Create an initial rough cut before adding transitions or special effectsspecial effects

Add titles, transitions, special effects sparinglyAdd titles, transitions, special effects sparingly

Expect to spend a few hours editing your story to get it just Expect to spend a few hours editing your story to get it just right. Don't overproduce: often the spontaneity and right. Don't overproduce: often the spontaneity and directness of the initial drafts get lost with too much directness of the initial drafts get lost with too much polishing.polishing.http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

Step 10: Share Your Step 10: Share Your StoryStory

Export your video to view in different forms:Export your video to view in different forms:DVD (AVI – full quality)DVD (AVI – full quality)

E-mail (highly compressed, lower quality)E-mail (highly compressed, lower quality)

CD-ROMCD-ROM

Much more information during last webinar.Much more information during last webinar.

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page5897.cfm

PublishPublish

Save Save twotwo versions of your file (File Menu -> versions of your file (File Menu -> Share):Share):– QuickTime -> CD-ROM (and name it your QuickTime -> CD-ROM (and name it your

“projectname”.mov) (which can be played from “projectname”.mov) (which can be played from the CD)the CD)

– QuickTime -> Web-Streaming (and name it QuickTime -> Web-Streaming (and name it your “projectnameweb”.mov) (which creates a your “projectnameweb”.mov) (which creates a version that can be posted to the WWW)version that can be posted to the WWW)

Publishing Your Videos Publishing Your Videos onlineonline

1. http://www.youtube.com (a very public space... OK for (a very public space... OK for your students, but you might not like to post there)your students, but you might not like to post there)

2. http://teachertube.com or http://schooltube.com (two or http://schooltube.com (two video hosting sites especially for schools)video hosting sites especially for schools)

3.3. http://video.google.com (a little less public, but Google http://video.google.com (a little less public, but Google may soon start charging $10 per year for an account)may soon start charging $10 per year for an account)

4.4. http://blip.tv/ (I have a group of movies stored there: http://blip.tv/ (I have a group of movies stored there: http://eportfolios.blip.tv/ )http://eportfolios.blip.tv/ )

5.5. http://ourmedia.org (a community of individuals http://ourmedia.org (a community of individuals dedicated to spreading grassroots creativity: videos, dedicated to spreading grassroots creativity: videos, podcasts and other works of personal media)podcasts and other works of personal media)

Online StorageOnline Storage

• You can also choose an online file storage system, You can also choose an online file storage system, such as the one that Ed uses: Microsoft Windows such as the one that Ed uses: Microsoft Windows Live Sky Drive: http://skydrive.live.com Live Sky Drive: http://skydrive.live.com

• The advantage of this system is that you can store The advantage of this system is that you can store up to 25 GB of all types of files, and you can up to 25 GB of all types of files, and you can password-protect your files.password-protect your files.

• I also like http://www.divshare.com/ to store files I also like http://www.divshare.com/ to store files online, because they give you the code to embed online, because they give you the code to embed your video into a blog or website (just like the your video into a blog or website (just like the video sharing sites). They let you store up to 5 GB video sharing sites). They let you store up to 5 GB of files.of files.

Name TagsName TagsMy Reflection on my own Professional LearningMy Reflection on my own Professional Learning

for my Professional Portfoliofor my Professional Portfolio

Link on Web PageLink on Web Page

http://sites.google.com/site/digitalstorysite/

Next StepsNext Steps• Send your scripts for feedback Send your scripts for feedback

(share in GoogleDocs to (share in GoogleDocs to eportfolios@gmail.com) or eportfolios@gmail.com) or attach in emailattach in email

• Contact me for an appointment Contact me for an appointment to discuss your storyto discuss your story

Last Webinar – April 20Last Webinar – April 20

• Sharing Digital StoriesSharing Digital Stories

• How to prepare videos for sharing How to prepare videos for sharing online (.WMV or .MOV formats)online (.WMV or .MOV formats)

• How to publish digital stories online How to publish digital stories online using one of the video sharing sitesusing one of the video sharing sites

• Sharing our stories (or our Sharing our stories (or our students’ stories) with each otherstudents’ stories) with each other

My Final Wish…My Final Wish…

May all yourMay all yourelectronic portfolioselectronic portfolios

include dynamic include dynamic celebrationscelebrations andand stories of deep stories of deep

learninglearning across the lifespan.across the lifespan.

Dr. Helen BarrettDr. Helen Barrett

•Researcher & ConsultantResearcher & ConsultantElectronic Portfolios & Digital Storytelling Electronic Portfolios & Digital Storytelling for Lifelong and Life-Wide Learningfor Lifelong and Life-Wide Learning

•eportfolios@gmail.comeportfolios@gmail.com• http://electronicportfolios.org/http://electronicportfolios.org/• http://sites.google.com/site/http://sites.google.com/site/

digitalstorysite/ digitalstorysite/