using technology to enhance storytelling

The relationship between technology and storytelling has been the subject of much inquiry, with a particular focus on the ways in which technology enhances the storytelling experience. Since the dawn of human history, storytelling has evolved from cave paintings and rock carvings to the modern-day utilization of desktop computers, iPads, and eBooks. The integration of technology in storytelling has substantially contributed to enhancing both the readers' and listeners' engagement and enjoyment.

Suppose you are a teacher assigned with the task of creating your school's yearbook. Given a handful of students, you are faced with the daunting question of how to encapsulate the entire school's story, encompassing the lives of the students, including the highs and lows, and everything in between. The yearbook serves as a testament to commemorate memories that will be treasured for a lifetime and celebrate the achievements and growth that have transpired. The challenge now lies in utilizing technology to augment the storytelling experience. Hence, the question arises as to which technological tools can be employed to achieve this goal. Joe Sabia states in the TED talk video states that “the art of storytelling, to most part has remained unchanged and for the most part, the stories are recycled, but the way that humans tell the stories has always evolved with pure, consistent novelty.” (2011)

In the article Digital storytelling in an elementary classroom: Going beyond entertainment, Terry A. Campbell writes that an example of a new technology is digital storytelling, which has been found to be engaging for both teachers and students (Dockter, Haug & Lewis, 2010). Teachers have found multimedia-rich digital stories to be powerful learning tools for instruction across curricular subjects.

The benefits may be even greater when students have the opportunity to create their own digital stories (Robin, 2008). Digital stories combine student-produced images such as photos, drawings or other visual art, voice narration, and music to tell a personal or informational narrative. Unlike stories written in the traditional way with pencil and paper or with word processing, digital stories are similar to short films with a continuous narrative line.

The use of multimedia for the creation of digital stories has been shown to have a positive effect on motivation for “struggling writers” to create and complete written products. One such study suggests that struggling writers may be motivated by digital technologies “because they are more literate in new literacies and employ these to scaffold traditional literacy” (Sylvester & Greenidge, 2009-10, p. 294). Other studies of the uses of digital learning environments in classrooms demonstrate an increase in “voluntary student writing, and improved standardized achievement scores on writing tasks” (Warren, Dondlinger, & Barab, 2008).

There are multiple ways how, utilizing technology can enhance storytelling.

PERSONALIZATION

Personalized learning engagement is a concept that involves tailoring learning experiences to individual learners based on their interests, abilities, and preferences. Technology can play a crucial role in enabling personalized learning engagement by providing access to a wide range of educational resources and tools that can be customized to meet the needs of individual learners.

One way that technology can enhance story telling is by providing learners with interactive and immersive experiences that allow them to engage with the story in a more personalized and meaningful way. For example, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies can be used to create immersive learning experiences that transport learners to different worlds and allow them to interact with the story and its characters.

Another way that technology can support personalized learning engagement is by providing learners with real-time feedback and assessments that help them to track their progress and identify areas for improvement. This can help learners to stay motivated and engaged in the learning process, as they are able to see their progress and feel a sense of accomplishment as they work through the story.

Overall, the use of technology in personalized learning engagement can enhance story telling by providing learners with more engaging, interactive, and immersive experiences that are tailored to their individual needs and preferences.

VISUAL LEARNING

Technology can enhance storytelling by catering to visual learners. Augmented reality experience development by the National Geographic Society uses AR to bring prehistoric creatures to life in a museum setting. It allows visitors to see and interact with creatures in a lifelike way and allows students to experience more for visual learners. AR technology can also be used in children’s books. It helps create level of interaction, making the stories more memorable, captivating and stimulating.

Photography is another tool of technology that can be used to tell stories in a variety of ways, from documentary photography to conceptual art photography. Documentaries such as "The Family of Man" by Edward Steichen, "Humanity" by Yann Arthus-Bertrand or “Humans of New York” by Brandon Stanton have used photography as a storytelling tool to convey a message about the human condition, and human life on the streets of New York. Your local schools yearbook has even used photography VR (Virtual Reality) to tell an entire schools story.

Conceptual art photographers like Cindy Sherman or Gregory Crewdson use photography to create narratives, often employing a cinematic approach, to create a sense of drama or suspense. VR and Photography are versatile storytelling tools that allows us to capture and communicate a wide range of emotions, experiences, and ideas. It can transcend language and cultural barriers, making them a powerful tool for storytelling that can speak to people from all walks of life.

ACTIVE LEARNING

Active learning engagement concept supports the use of technology by providing learners with opportunities to actively engage with digital learning materials and tools. Technology can be used to create interactive and engaging learning activities such as simulations, virtual reality environments, and multimedia presentations, which can help learners actively engage with the content.

For example, technology can be used to create digital stories that incorporate multimedia elements such as images, videos, and sound effects. Digital stories can be used to enhance the storytelling experience by making it more interactive and engaging. Learners can interact with the story by clicking on different elements to reveal additional information or by answering questions related to the story.

In addition, technology can also be used to enhance the collaborative nature of active learning. Learners can use online tools and platforms to work together on projects, share ideas, and provide feedback to one another. This can create a more dynamic and engaging learning environment that promotes active participation and collaboration.

Overall, the use of technology in active learning can enhance storytelling by providing learners with more opportunities to actively engage with the content and collaborate with one another. It can also create a more immersive and engaging learning experience that promotes deep learning and retention.

HANDS-ON

Hands-on learners, learn best through practical and experiential activities. By incorporating interactive and immersive elements into the storytelling experience, hands-on learners can actively engage with the content and deepen their understanding of the story being told.

One way to engage hands-on learners using technology is through Virtual and Augmented Reality experiences. For example, a virtual reality experience could allow learners to explore a historical event or a far-off location, allowing them to interact with the environment and immerse themselves in the story. Augmented reality experiences can also be used to add an extra layer of interactivity to traditional storytelling, allowing learners to explore objects or environments related to the story in a hands-on way.

Another way to engage hands-on learners is through digital storytelling platforms. These platforms allow learners to create their own stories, incorporating multimedia elements such as images, videos, and audio recordings. By allowing learners to take an active role in the storytelling process, they can develop a deeper understanding of the content and connect with the story on a personal level.

INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING

When it comes to technology and storytelling, IBL (Inquiry-Based Learning) encourages learners to ask questions and explore different technologies that can help students take ownership of their learning and develop critical thinking skills. When it comes to using technology for storytelling, inquiry-based learning can be a powerful tool for engaging learners’ creativity and fostering critical thinking. Reiser and Dempsey (2018) provided some strategies and engagements for using technology to enhance storytelling in the classroom. Here are some of the strategies and engagements they mentioned:

1 Digital Storytelling: Using digital tools such as audio, video, and images to create and share stories. This can be done through tools like iMovie, StoryJumper, and Book Creator.

2 Interactive Storytelling: Using interactive tools like games and simulations to engage learners and make stories more immersive. This can be done through tools like Twine and Minecraft.

3 Collaborative Storytelling: Using technology to facilitate collaboration and co-creation of stories. This can be done through tools like Google Docs and Padlet.

4 Personalized Storytelling: Using technology to customize and personalize stories based on individual interests and preferences. This can be done through tools like Choose Your Own Adventure stories and branching scenarios.

5 Augmented Reality Storytelling: Using augmented reality tools to bring stories to life and make them more interactive. This can be done through tools like Aurasma and HP Reveal.

6 Story Mapping: Using technology to create maps and visual representations of stories. This can be done through tools like Google Maps and ESRI ArcGIS.

GAMIFICATION

Using game design principles to create engaging and interactive storytelling experiences. This can be done through tools like Minecraft and Gamestar Mechanic. Gamification can be defined as the use of game mechanics and elements in non-game contexts to enhance engagement and motivation. When applied to storytelling, gamification can make the experience more interactive and immersive, allowing learners to take an active role in the story.

Technology can enhance gamification in storytelling by providing a variety of interactive tools, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, which can immerse learners in the story and create a more engaging and memorable experience. Additionally, technology can provide instant feedback and rewards to learners, which can motivate them to continue engaging with the story.

gamification and technology can enhance storytelling by creating a more interactive, immersive, and rewarding experience, which can lead to increased engagement, motivation, and retention of information.

Using a variety of engagement strategies can help ensure that all learners are engaged and learning in a way that works best for them when teaching how to tell a story using technology.

Reiser and Dempsey's statement that motivation to learn is promoted when learners anticipate and experience satisfying outcomes to a learning task (2018) is particularly relevant when using technology to enhance storytelling in a yearbook. Feeling good about the accomplishment of a piece of school history help maintain the motivation to learn and reinforces a student for successfully completing an optimally challenging task by including congratulatory comments together with an internal attribution for success. (2018)

By using technology to create a more interactive and engaging yearbook, students are more likely to anticipate and experience satisfying outcomes. They may feel more invested in the project and more motivated to produce a high-quality product that they can be proud of. This, in turn, can lead to a deeper engagement with the learning task and a greater desire to learn and apply new skills.

Moreover, the use of technology can also help students develop a range of digital literacy skills, including digital storytelling, multimedia production, and design. These skills are becoming increasingly important in today's digital age and can benefit students in their future academic and professional endeavors.

Overall, by using technology to enhance storytelling in a yearbook, teachers can help promote motivation to learn and develop important digital literacy skills, while also creating a more engaging and interactive learning experience for their students.

In conclusion, technology has revolutionized the art of storytelling by providing new and innovative ways to engage audiences. Augmented Reality, Gamification, Hands-on Learning, Collaborative Storytelling, and Personalized Storytelling are just a few examples of the vast array of technologies available to storytellers today. The integration of technology such as iPads, digital and video cameras, smart phones, and eBooks have all contributed to the development of new mediums and platforms for storytelling. With technology continuing to evolve, the possibilities for enhancing storytelling are limitless, and we can expect to see more exciting innovations in the near future.

Campbell, T. A. (2007). Digital storytelling in an elementary classroom: Going beyond entertainment. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 80(5), 233-238. doi: 10.3200/TCHS.80.5.233-238

Sylvester, R., & Greenidge, W. (2009-10). Digital Storytelling: Extending the Potential for Struggling Writers. The Reading Teacher, 63(4), 284– 295.

Warren, S.J., Dondlinger, M., & Barab, S. (2008). A MUVE Towards PBL Writing: E ects of a Digital Learning Environment Designed To Improve Elementary Student Writing. Journal of Research on Technology in Education Copyright © 2008, ISTE, 800.336.5191 Accessed February 8, 2010 EBSCO host

Stanton, B. [Brandon Stanton]. (2015, May 29). Storytelling Award - Brandon Stanton, Humans of New York [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq85ilBzHu8

Sabia, J. (2011, December 6). The technology of storytelling [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkZtRzc9rFQ

Koplos, K. (2019, September 12). The evolution of VR storytelling [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HsJVeFdanc

Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2018). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology. Pearson.