Listening is hard.

Most people are either too distracted, or too impatient, to be really good listeners. In some parts of the world, this has resulted in a profusion of individuals who get paid to do the emotional labor of listening – researchers, therapists, social workers, etc. Yet anyone can learn to listen deeply. When they do, they create space for the storyteller to journey into the heart of the matter at hand.
Center for Digital Storytelling


What is Digital storytelling?  At its most basic core, digital storytelling is the practice of using computer-based tools to tell stories.  It all revolves around the idea of combining the art of telling stories with a variety of multimedia, including graphics, audio, video, and Web publishing.

I think that this simple truth speaks volumes to me because I tend to twenty-five 14-year olds in one classroom at a time. As a high school Spanish teacher, I look for as many tools that I can get in order for my kids to listen. Whether it's computer, re-arranging desks, turning off lights, singing, dancing... A tool is a tool, and it only works well if you know how/when to use that tool.

Technology is a powerful instrument of creativity.

Many people blame themselves for their lack of technological savvy, instead of recognizing the complexity of the tools and acknowledging that access and training are often in short supply. But new media and digital video technologies will not in and of themselves make a better world. Developing thoughtful, participatory approaches to how and why these technologies are being used is essential.

Center for Digital Storytelling

well said...

I think that digital storytelling is an enormous asset to the education world. If I am able to motivate, intrigue and enhance my classroom in any way, I will dive right in. I have used a form of digital storytelling for my Spanish classes before. The site was StoryJumper.
The students were so engaged in the new online story creating site that they forgot that they were writing in Spanish and seemed to then do so with ease and less anxiety.