Digital Storytelling with
Handheld Computers
Candace Figg, PhD.
West Texas A&M University
http://www.figg.com/handy4class
What is a digital story?
“Storytelling from the
images we collect in our
lives”
Canadian Film Centre's Great Canadian Storytelling Engine
What are the components of
a digital story?
1. A good story
What are the components of
a digital story?
1. A good story
2. Images that tell or enhance
the story
• 1-3 images OR
• 1-3 minutes of video
What are the components of
a digital story?
1. A good story
2. Images that tell or enhance
the story
• 1-3 images OR
• 1-3 minutes of video
3. Sound that enhances (optional)
http://www.wired.com/animation/colle
ction/nicola_lemay/star_eater/
How about this?
http://www.wired.com/animation/collection/nicola_lemay/star_eater/
Advanced Organizer
• Identify the five types of digital
stories
• Identify the digital story activity
structures
• Describe the hierarchy of writing
skills developed with digital stories
Four modes of writing
•
•
•
•
Descriptive
Narrative
Expository
Persuasive
Descriptive Activity Structures
Descriptive Activity Structures
• Introductory descriptive writing
– Digital Records
– Conceptual Dictionaries
Flowering Plants of Texas: A Digital
Collection
Liriope
Dusty Miller
Daisy
Rose
Descriptive Activity Structures
• First experiences with
descriptive story writing
– Rephotography
(http://www.thirdview.org/3v/home/index.html )
Descriptive Activity Structures
• First experiences with
descriptive story writing
– Rephotography
(http://www.thirdview.org/3v/home/index.html )
– “Place”
(http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/jan02/banasz
ewski.htm)
Trains and Fire
Trucks
My favorite things
This is a
great train!
I like the train but I
don’t like the tunnel.
Can’t let Mom
know I’m afraid of
the tunnel. On to
the fire truck!
Want to play
fire truck! I’m
the chief, OK.
Excuse me, but
I think this is
my fire truck.
Boy, what a
wonderful
day.
Descriptive Activity Structures
• First experiences with
descriptive story writing
– Rephotography
(http://www.thirdview.org/3v/home/index.html )
– “Place”
(http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/jan02/banasz
ewski.htm)
• Digital Story Starters
Digital Storytelling
I heard him trying to break in!
I ran to the cabinet and grabbed my
automatic, slammed a clip in and
chambered a round. I was scared as
I snuck down the hall to the back
door.
I also grabbed a flashlight. I opened
the door as quietly and as slowly as I
could. I tiptoed to the side of the
house where I heard him still
working on the screen.
I turned the corner and put the
flashlight and gun in his face. I
yelled, “Hands up” as he turned to
face me.
Crime scene
Yep! Your right. It was a cat burglar.
Personal Photo Essays
Personal Photo Essays
• “Slice of life”
A day in Dr. Figg’s class
A photo essay
What do you think
we will be doing in
class today?
Oh, I remember we are
going to integrate the
use of handhelds in to
our lesson plans.
What will happen? It
may look like this.
Everyone will
be on task.
Some will be
working in groups.
Some will develop
ideas before group
activity begins.
Each group will gather
photographs for their
own theme.
The class was very active.
Some were designing while
some were brainstorming.
Still others were already
writing their fable.
The fables were very good.
Personal Photo Essays
• “Slice of life”
• Electronic Photo Albums
Looking for a Topic
A photo essay
It was a beautiful sunny day in
Denver and we were looking for a
story. This may be the place!
We continued to look for
a story which we could
find in a reasonable
period of time.
The statues in this plaza
thought we might find a
story in one of these
building but it appeared as
though it would take more
time than we had to spare.
We came upon a sad bear who
was trying to find his way
home.
He wouldn’t talk to Candace.
He was just too sad.
She finally convinced
him to talk to me.
He told us that the best place to find a story
was at the home of Molly Brown.
He was right!
Personal Photo Essays
• “Slice of life”
• Electronic Photo Albums
• VIP or digital biographies
Personal Photo Essays
•
•
•
•
“Slice of life”
Electronic Photo Albums
VIP or digital biographies
Oral histories
Sequential Storytelling
Sequential Storytelling
• Beginning, middle, end
Sequential Storytelling
• Beginning, middle, end
• Capture phenomena as occurs
Sequential Storytelling
• Beginning, middle, end
• Capture phenomena as occurs
• Storyboarding
Sequential Storytelling
• Procedural
– Step-by-Step guides
– Video prompts
• Experimental
• Differing View Points
• Time lapse
Narrative Storytelling
Narrative Storytelling
• Introduction
• Events that
lead to
problem
• Problem or
crisis
• Problem
resolution
Narratives Storytelling
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fairy tales: “Once upon a time”
Fables
Myths
Legends
Poems
Predictable stories
Commercials
Content Advertisements
Commercials as Storytelling
SCENE 1
Commercials as Storytelling
SCENE 2
SCENE 1
Commercials as Storytelling
SCENE 2
SCENE 1
SCENE 3
Commercials as Storytelling
SCENE 4
Summary of project
Example of project
Details/definitions
Interactive Storytelling
Interactive Storytelling
Simulations & Virtual
Labs
• Flash animations
• Tealpaint animations
(Seed)
• http://www.brainpop.com
Interactive Storytelling
Choose your own adventure stories:
• 2-3 Storyboards
• 2-3 Decision Points
• http://www.northcanton.sparcc.org/~
middle/advent/
Any questions???
Be sure to email Dr. F!
To continue, return to the
Connections Section of this module.