DIGITAL STORYTELLING
This page is devoted to information about what digital storytelling is, who is doing it and how it is done.
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Definition:
• Digital Storytelling reflects both a broad reference to the emergent new forms of digital narratives (web-based stories, interactive stories, hypertexts, and narrative computer games) as well as the specific approach of creating short digital films developed by the Center for Digital Storytelling.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_storytelling
From Wikipedia:
An emerging term
It is an emerging term, one that arises from a grassroots movement that uses new digital tools to help ordinary people to tell their own 'true stories' in a compelling and emotionally-engaging form. These stories usually takes the form of a relatively short story (less than 8 minutes) and can involve interactivity.
The term can also be a broader journalistic reference to the variety of emergent new forms of digital narratives (web-based stories, interactive stories, hypertexts, and narrative computer games).
As an emerging area of creative work, the definition of digital storytelling is still the subject of much debate.
Development and pioneers
The broad definition has been used by innumerable artists and producers to link their practices with traditions of oral storytelling and often to delineate work from the highly produced commercial or conceptual projects by focusing on authorship and humanistic or emotionally provocative content. Some of the artists that have self-described as digital storytellers included Abbe Don, Brenda Laurel, Dana Atchley, and Pedro Meyer. Much pioneering work has been done by the Center for Digital Storytelling.
The short narrated films definition of digital storytelling relates back to the development of a production workshop by Dana Atchley at the American Film Institute in 1993 that was adapted and refined by Joe Lambert in the mid-1990's into a method of training promoted by the San Francisco Bay Area-based Center for Digital Storytelling.
Typically, digital stories are produced in intensive workshops. The product is a 2-5 minute film that combines a narrated piece of personal writing, photographic images and a musical soundtrack. The philosophy behind this type of digital storytelling is one of using technology to enable those without a technical background to produce works that tell a story using moving images and sound.
Use by public broadcasters and education
This model has been integrated into public broadcasting by the BBC in the UK, beginning with the Capture Wales project, led by Daniel Meadows. The following year a similar project was launched by the BBC in England called Telling Lives. The executive producer of BBC Telling Lives has since set up his own digital storytelling training and consultancy called digistories.
San Francisco's Public Broadcasting Station KQED started the first public broadcasting digital storytelling initiative [1] 5 years ago. To date over 600 high school students have entered the "Coming to California Digital Storytelling Contest" [2], telling the true story of their or a family member's journey to California. The DSI has evolved the process to include the training of teachers and hands-on implementation in the classroom.
The Center for Digital Storytelling model has also been adopted in education, especially in the US, where some practitioners use it as a method of building engagement and multimedia literacy. For example, the Bay Area Video Coalition [3] employs digital storytelling as a means of engaging and empowering at-risk youth.
Ball State University has a masters program in Digital Storytelling. The program began in 2003.
See also: Visual novel.
Extraordinary link:
• Tech Head Stories - Comprehensive site of links to Digital Storytelling sources
( http://tech-head.com/dstory.htm )
External links
• Center for Digital Storytelling ( http://www.storycenter.org/index1.html )
• BBC Digital Storytelling ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/digitalstorytelling/ )
• KQED's Digital Storytelling Initiative ( http://dsi.kqed.org/ )
• The one-act interactive drama Façade ( http://interactivestory.net/ )
• Daniel Meadow's Site ( http://www.photobus.co.uk/ )
• Digistories, UK based digital storytelling consultancy ( http://www.digistories.co.uk/ )
• The San Diego LGBT Community Center's Digital media Project ( http://www.thecentersd.org/digital/ )
• The Australian Centre for the Moving Image offers workshops in Digital Storytelling
( http://www.acmi.net.au/digital_storytelling.jsp )
• Ball State University Master of Arts in Telecommunications, Digital Storytelling Emphasis
( http://www.bsu.edu/cim/storytelling/ )
• Bristol Stories - Bristol-based storytelling project, linked to the Museum of Bristol
( http://www.bristolstories.org/ )
• Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling ( http://www.coe.uh.edu/digitalstorytelling/ )
• Storytelling: A Practical Classroom Management Strategy
( http://terry-freedman.org.uk/artman/publish/printer_804.php/Digital )
• Creative Narrations ( http://www.creativenarrations.net/ )
• 7 Things You Should Know About Digital Storytelling
( http://www.educause.edu/content.asp?page_id=666&ID=ELI7021&bhcp=1 )
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More links:
• Digital Storytelling ( http://electronicportfolios.com/digistory/ )
• The Elements of Digital Storytelling / Storybuilding ( http://www.inms.umn.edu/elements/ )
• Digital Storytelling ( http://www.teachingteachers.com/story.htm )
• Digital Storytelling ( http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/howto/Digital_Storytelling/index.html )
• Digital Storytelling Finds Its Place in the Classroom
( http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/jan02/banaszewski.htm )
Digital Storytelling Resources:
http://digitalstorytelling.zerodivide.org/resources/youth.pdf
Check out the BrainGlow website for more resources, updates and additions at:
http://www.bavc.org/brainglow/
YOUTH PROGRAM & ORGANIZATION RESOURCES
826 VALENCIA
Simply put, 826 Valencia helps students, ages 8–18, to develop their writing skills.
They offer free drop-in tutoring, workshops, and storytelling. They also help students create their
own story collections, zines, and other publications.
http://www.826valencia.org/
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BAVC’s YOUTHLINK
YouthLink, BAVC's Youth Scholarship program, is a great way for teens to gain skills in web
design and video production. With hands-on projects after school and during the summer,
students can express themselves creatively through digital media and prepare for the challenges
of the workplace and higher education. Participants develop important skills such as teamwork,
critical thinking, goal setting, effective communication, resume building and interviewing. Check
out Youthlink’s online magazines called YouthZines.
http://www.bavc.org/classes/youth/index.htm
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CHILDRENS MEDIA PROJECT (CMP)
CMP is an arts and education organization focusing on media and technology. Their mission is to
create a teaching/learning environment where artists, educators, community activists and
especially children and youth can learn to interact with the media arts both as creators and critical
viewers.
http://www.childrensmediaproject.org/
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CHILDREN’S PARTNERSHIP
The Children's Partnership (www.childrenspartnership.org) is a national, nonprofit organization
that undertakes research, analysis, and advocacy to place the needs of America's nearly 70
million children and youth, particularly the underserved, at the forefront of emerging policy
debates.
http://childrenspartnership.org/
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CLARKSTOWN TV
Begun in 1997, the Clarkstown High School North TV Studio fosters creative work in digital video,
animation, sound production, and scriptwriting in New York City, New York, a suburb 25 miles
northwest of New York City. Serving the school and community, the studio generates high-quality
documentaries, public service announcements, animations, and student movies
for local educational access and for state and national festivals and competitions.
http://www.ccsd.edu/web/secondary/north/TVStudio/index.html
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CONTENTBANK
Contentbank is a project of The Children's Partnership. The mission of this site is to spur the
development of online content and tools produced for and by low-income and other underserved
communities. They held a Youth-Created Content Online Exchange that presented descriptions
of various media programs from across the country. They posted lesson plans, links to student
work, online youth-media resources, related research, and further information about workshops
and programs.
http://www.contentbank.org/homepage.asp
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DIGITAL CLUBHOUSE NETWORK
The Digital Clubhouse Network is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting
service, community and digital literacy by teaching youth to use technology to work with and give
voice to people of all backgrounds and abilities.
http://www.digiclubnyc.org
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THE DJ PROJECT
The DJ Project is a youth leadership program that utilizes music and urban culture to inspire low-
income youth through a dynamic blend of arts education, job readiness training, entrepreneurship
and community service programming. Recognizing hip-hop as a positive educational medium,
The DJ Project hopes to collaborate and share its curriculum with other youth agencies and
educators eager to implement programs with strong youth appeal.
http://www.thedjproject.com/index.htm
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EAST BAY ASIAN YOUTH CENTER – STREETSIDE PRODUCSTIONS
Engages young people in written, visual and interactive storytelling. Streetside Productions offers
workshops in writing, desktop publishing and digital video editing; produces NeXGeneration
Magazine and Reel Peeps Video; and shares its stories through hard copy distribution, the
Internet, public broadcast and film festivals.
http://www.ebayc.org
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EVC (Educational Video Center)
EVC is a nonprofit media arts center that teaches documentary video production and media
analysis to youth. They are dedicated to the creative and community-based use of video and
multi-media as a means to develop the literacy, critical thinking, and work preparation skills of
inner city youth.
http://www.evc.org
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GIRLSOURCE
GirlSource provides meaningful work and leadership opportunities for urban, low-income young
women, ages 14 - 18. They hire them to create media and education products that express their
own voices and experiences. GirlSource equips young women with the life, leadership, and job
skills they need to succeed.
http://www.girlsource.org
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GIRLS INCORPORATED
Girls Incorporated is a national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be
strong, smart, and bold. For over 55 years, Girls Inc has provided vital educational programs to
millions of American girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas. Today, innovative
programs help girls confront subtle societal messages about their value and potential, and
prepare them to lead successful, independent, and fulfilling lives.
http://www.girlsinc.org/
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H2Ed
The mission of H2Ed is to advocate on an institutional and grassroots level for the use of Hip-Hop
culture as a vehicle for educational reform. H2Ed's objective is not centered upon learning about
the musical genre of Hip-Hop itself, but exploring how curriculum, activities and learning models
using Hip-Hop culture as a learning tool can be a more effective way to connect, educate, and
activate youth.
http://www.h2ed.net/
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HARLEM LIVE
HarlemLive is award winning, critically acclaimed web magazine produced by teens from
throughout New York City. It is a journalism program that teaches students ages 13 to 21 how to
run an online newspaper. The publication, "HarlemLive," (www.harlemlive.org), includes news
articles, investigative stories, opinion pieces, personal essays, poetry, photography and video
documentaries.
http://www.harlemlive.org
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KID WITNESS NEWS (KWN)
KWN is a hands-on video education program created to encourage students to develop valuable
cognitive, communication and organizational skills through the use of video. This unique program
provides schools with an array of video equipment and offers participants the opportunity to
develop their interests, abilities and creativity through the production of videos. Kid Witness News
was developed and is supported by Panasonic in conjunction with the public school system in
more than 200 participating schools.
http://www.panasonic.com/meca/kwn/overview.html
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LATIN AMERICAN YOUTH CENTER – ARTOWROKS!
The Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) is a non-profit youth and family center in Washington,
D.C. Founded in 1974 for the purpose of serving at-risk immigrant Latino youth, LAYC now works
each year with over 5,000 infants, children, teens, and adults from the city's Latino, Vietnamese,
Caribbean, African-American, and African communities. Based in Columbia Heights, LAYC
attracts individuals citywide to programs in academics, health educations, job training, social
services, leadership development, substance abuse prevention, housing, arts, humanities, and
recreation.
http://www.layc-dc.org
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LA YOUTH
LA Youth newspaper is a county - wide, teen-written publication with a readership of 300,000
youth and adults. It is published six times a year. LA Youth wants to foster job and educational
skills, provide a forum for communication and give young people a voice in civic life.
http://www.layouth.com/
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MAGIC NETWORK
All over the world, children and young people are contributing to a range of TV programs, radio
shows, newspapers, websites and other media projects, getting their voices heard and putting
their hopes and concerns into the public arena. The MAGIC website is UNICEF's (United Nations
Children's Fund) response to the Oslo Challenge of 1999, which called on media professionals,
educators, governments, organizations, parents, children and young people themselves to
recognize the enormous potential of media to make the world a better place for children. This
website showcases media projects by, with and for children, and provides information for those
wishing to take up the Oslo Challenge.
http://www.unicef.org/magic/
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THE NEW JEWISH FILM PROJECT
The New Jewish Film Project gives a diverse group of talented teenagers extensive resources
and training to tell their own stories. Teenagers spend a year working with a community of
professional, independent filmmakers and challenging one another to consider the meaning and
relevance of Jewish identity in their own lives.
http://www.sfjff.org/site/pages/index.php?ptype=2&pchild_id=142
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NORTHWEST FILM CENTER’S YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROGRAM
For more than a quarter of a century, the Northwest Film Center's Young Filmmakers Program
has served youth of all backgrounds and abilities from throughout Oregon and beyond. Supported
by community, corporate and foundation contributors, Young Filmmakers is one of the oldest and
most respected programs of its kind in the nation.
http://www.nwfilm.org/youngfilmmakers/index.php
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OASIS CENTER
Oasis Center’s mission is “To work in partnership with youth, their families and community to
meet, master and embrace the challenges of adolescence.” They’re located in Nashville,
Tennessee. Check out some of the programs they run!
http://www.oasiscenter.org/
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RADIOARTE
Radio Arte, a youth initiative of the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, is an educational radio
station that has served the Pilsen/ Little Village neighborhood of Chicago for over 6 years. Radio
Arte trains, motivates and encourages youth to develop self-expression through the broadcast
medium. It provides a forum for young people to be creative and responsible to the largest
Mexican community in the Midwest as the only bilingual (Spanish/ English), youth-operated,
urban, community station in the country, Radio Arte is committed to training young people (ages
15-21) from the Chicago metropolitan area in the art of broadcasting.
http://www.radioarte.org
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RICHMOND VILLAGE BEACON CENTER
The Richmond Village Beacon (RVB) is a community center located at George Washington High
School in San Francisco. Utilizing school space during after school and weekend hours, RVB
provides a wide range of services for youth and adults. They have a Media Arts Academy that
teaches participants about Video Production, Web Design, Digital Photography, Electronic Music
and Digital Animation. Students learn to use digital media production tools such as Flash, HTML,
Photoshop and Dreamweaver and video production tools, including training in lighting, sound,
shooting techniques and editing on Final Cut Pro.
http://www.rvbeacon.org/
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SISTERZ OF THE UNDERGROUND
Sisterz of the Undeground (SOTU) is an all female hip-hop collective that strives to direct youth to
positive ends, through engaging them in the art and positive values of the Hip Hop culture. SOTU
seeks to educate youth on the positive origins of Hip Hop as a counter-culture to the violence and
crime of the inner city and help them to understand that the Hip Hop culture does not support the
promotion of violence, the objectification of women, or the glorification of self-gratification that is
often shown in Hip Hop productions.
http://www.sisterzunderground.com/new/index.htm
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STREET-LEVEL YOUTH MEDIA
Street-Level Youth Media educates Chicago's inner-city youth in media arts and emerging
technologies for use in self-expression communication, and social change. Street-Level programs
build self-esteem and critical thinking skills for urban who have been historically neglected by
policy makers and mass media. Using video production, computer art and the Internet young
people address community issues, access advanced technology and gain inclusion in our
information-based society. They have a fabulous resource page!!! Check it out!
http://streetlevel.iit.edu
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STREETSIDE STORIES
Streetside Stories uses storytelling to build community and inspire students to write, read and tell
their own stories.
http://www.streetside.org
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STUDENT PRESS.ORG
In 1921, NSPA began helping high school students and teachers improve their publications.
Today that goal remains #1. This site has great, vital information for students participating in
journalistic writing
http://studentpress.org
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THE URBAN MUSIC PROGRAM (SNBC DJ CLUB)
The Urban Music Program (SNBC DJ CLUB) has had over 200 members in its' four year history.
Based out of A.P. Giannini, the club draws youth from Lincoln High School and other schools
throughout San Francisco. Their influences range from hip-hop to techno, trance to alternative
and everything in between.
http://snbc.org/
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VOICES, INC
A non-profit organization in Tucson, AZ, that develops and implements mentor/apprentice youth
projects that strengthen personal and place identity by uncovering, documenting and sharing
stories of everyday people.
http://www.voicesinc.org/
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VOX
VOX (Latin for "voice") is a newspaper published monthly during the school year, written for and
by teens. Published by Youth Communication, Atlanta, VOX is distributed free at most public high
schools in the Atlanta area, some private schools, and various other youth and public locations.
http://www.youthcommunication-vox.org/
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WIREDWOODS
WiredWoods is a non-profit organization with a mission to spark a life-long interest in technology
among at-risk children to empower them to succeed in today’s digital age. WiredWoods combines
the power of computers with the joy of traditional summer camp to impact at-risk children who
often fall through the cracks of technology outreach efforts.
http://www.wiredwoods.org/
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WORLD STUDIO FOUNDATION
They focus the power of today's creators on a commitment to all issues of social awareness, the
environment, and diversity. Their Help Kids Create Mentoring Program pairs creative
professionals with disadvantaged high school youth to produce artistic collaborations that focus
on social issues. The participants create public service art projects that take the form of
exhibitions, installations, publications, and poster/advertising campaigns.
http://www.worldstudio.org/ment/index.html
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YOUNG CHICAGO AUTHORS
The mission of Young Chicago Authors is to use creative writing as the vehicle to uncover and
nurture the abilities of young people so they may develop self-confidence, imagination and
individuality. The programs of Young Chicago Authors give students from diverse backgrounds
access to writing in safe, stress-free, learning environments.
http://www.youngchicagoauthors.org/
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YOUTH COMMUNICATION
Youth Communication (YC) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise youth voice.
They use peer-to-peer communication to involve teenagers as citizens in the metro-Atlanta
community.
http://www.youthcommunication-vox.org/
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YOUTH MEDIA
Youth Media is dedicated to training youth, educators and youth service providers in digital media
and television production. They teach students aesthetic and technical skills while creating
programs that inform and serve their communities.
http://www.youth-media.org/
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YOUTH RADIO
Youth Radio is a non-profit media organization located in Berkeley, CA, whose mission is to
promote young people's intellectual, creative, and professional growth through training and
access to media. They train Bay Area high school students in radio broadcasting and web
journalism and their broadcasts air on local radio stations and national outlets such as NPR.
http://www.youthradio.org/
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YOUTH RADIO DC
Youth Radio D.C. is a joint program of the Latin American Youth Center and Youth Radio in
Berkeley, California. Youth Radio DC promotes young people's intellectuals, creative and
professional growth through training and access to media. By providing hands on experience in
radio to young people, Youth Radio DC not only provides participants with practical experience
but also gets youth voices heard.
http://www.layc-dc.org/socialenterprises/teentalk.html
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YOUTHSOUNDS
Youth Sounds gives young people positive support and space to articulate how they see
themselves and the world around them, and they will learn to think in new ways, learn to
challenge dominant viewpoints, and learn to interact with a world larger than the confines of their
neighborhood.
http://www.youthsounds.org/
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YOUTH SPEAKS
Youth Speaks is a premier youth poetry, spoken word, and creative writing program in the
country. Youth Speaks has helped spark the next generation of poets and writers lighting up
stages and pages in all corners of the land.
http://www.youthspeaks.org/
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YPP – YOUNG PEOPLE’S PRESS
This Web site is the major online publication of Young People’s Press, a North American news
service that empowers a large network of youth and young adult writers to have a voice in the
mainstream media and a space at the table of public opinion.
http://www.ypp.net
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(Page created 2/20/07; updated 4/7/07)