Use of Digital Storytelling in Classrooms and Beyond

Abstract

Storytelling has been a part of our lives ever since humans made the first attempt to communicate with their fellow beings. In ancient times, before oral storytelling even appeared, humans drew pictures and symbols to communicate their stories. As a universal language which everyone can understand, stories have been passed on from generations to generations as a way to share feelings, wisdom, and values. Now in this digital age, the traditional art of storytelling has found its modern reincarnated version in the form of digital stories. Storytelling is an art to be honed; and when combined with multimedia, including audio, video, and graphics, it transforms the experience in ways never before imagined. The paper attempts to explore what is new in digital stories and how it can be used in educational settings. Through an exploration of the pedagogic potential of digital stories, the paper, in addition, seeks to initiate constructive dialogue regarding its implementation in classroom activities and beyond.