Digital Storytelling

 

Digital storytelling has many benefits to EL's English language acquisition. Some notable benefits are that students would be exposed to English vocabulary, practice communicating their thoughts, write through research, and create a script. Using digital stories for students to view allows them to practice their listening skills. ELs can hear new terms used and have visuals to build a connection to each new idea. Then, when students create digital stories of their own to present, that forces them to research information, write a script with their research, create the storyboard, find digital media to illustrate their points, record their audio, put together all parts of the story and share (Rance-Roney, 2016). Through this extensive process, the students are constantly revising their thoughts in written and verbal form. While recording, they have to listen to themselves and approve of it, and those students will want a near-perfect recording, so they continue to revise their speech to use clear and concise language. 

Once students complete their digital story and share it with their peers, they are exposed to new English vocabulary terms. Through watching their peer's videos, students also learn vocabulary terms to improve their social and academic language listening and speaking skills (Leong et al., 2019). Digital storytelling has a multitude of benefits, but it all boils down to the students being given a tool that can make abstract learning topics more exciting and easier to comprehend. (Harjono & Wirvtinoyo, 2021). Students are more engaged and have an improvement in self-confidence, creativity, listening, speaking, and writing. Through this activity, all students, especially ELs, are allowed to show their understanding in an enjoyable way. A way that makes ELs feel heard, seen, and understood.

      The few challenges of digital would be that viewing digital stories a lot in class can take the novelty out of it. Students will eventually become bored or use digital stories if they experience is not used sparingly, possibly for big projects one marking period.

I teach kindergarten autistic support. The main focus in my room is to decrease behaviors and get my students to communicate their wants and needs. My students cannot create a digital story right now in their school career. However, I believe my students can create a few digital stories when they start to work on story elements. Our main focus is transitioning from a preferred task to a non-preferred task without expelling aggressive behaviors.

Works Cited

Harjono, H. S., & Wiryotinoyo, M. (2021). Exploring the benefits of digital storytelling for enhancing teaching and learning. Advances in Engineering Research. https://doi.org/10.2991/aer.k.210825.047

Leong, A. C., Zainol Abidin, M. J., & Saibon, J. S. (2019). The benefits and drawbacks of using tablet-based digital storytelling in vocabulary learning among Malaysian young English as a Second language (ESL) learners. Asia Pacific Journal of Educators and Education, 34, 17–47. https://doi.org/10.21315/apjee2019.34.2

 Rance-Roney, J. (2016). Digital Story Telling for Language and Cultural Learning. Nwp.org. Retrieved October 20, 2021 from https://lead.nwp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Judith_Rance-Roney_Digital_Storytelling.pdf

 

Comments

  1. Allison TempletonNovember 8, 2024 at 8:31 AM

    Rayne,
    You really brought up some great points in this blog post! The first one that stood out to me is the fact that digital storytelling is a process through which students are “constantly revising their thoughts in written and verbal form.” This is so valuable because it allows them to do some error analysis and examine their own work in order to improve upon it. Through this process, their overall speaking, listening, and writing skills are all being enhanced! I also love the idea of their stories being shared with their peers in the class, which offers even more benefits. Your point that the novelty of digital storytelling could be lost is valid and I have seen that happen before with activities that once seemed exciting. However, through the use of different topics or prompts, maybe it could be kept fresh and enticing!
    Thank you,
    Allison

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shayla HighNovember 9, 2024 at 10:36 AM

    Your blog about digital storytelling was quick but informative! You stated that students research a topic, come up with a transcript and find visuals to present the content. This allows them to learn new content and vocabulary. When I first learned about digital storytelling I was intimated. I think that I was overthinking to the concept and thought that it had to be very complex. Your blog reassured that it does not have to be that complex. You mentioned that if the story telling was displayed for the class, then it might become a boring activity. I can also foresee that happening. Maybe sharing one a week would help with that. It would be nice to see the student's hard work shared and I am sure they learn from their peers.

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