"Digital Storytelling Finds its Place in the Classroom"

In this article, Tom Banaszewski discusses his use of digital storytelling with his fourth and fifth grade students. He describes the procedure that he worked through in order to have his students create meaningful writing and storytelling. The students were given the task of writing about "a place that is important to her or him" (Banaszewski, 2002). They took their thoughts about and used iMovie to create a digital story.

As a way to get students to create a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, Banaszewski provided them with several questions that were to be addressed in the body of their story. These questions addressed the memories, feelings, and the "difference [that] this place makes" (Banaszewski, 2002). By addressing these questions, the students were able to create vivid stories relating their special place to the reader.

In addition to the "how-to's" of iMovie, Banaszewski also discusses how these movies helped create a learning community within his classroom. In order for students to feel free to write about something as personal as their most important place, "all must value each other's ideas and support the belief that hearing place stories from everyone benefits the entire class (Banaszewski, 2002). Banaszewski modeled the process for creating a story and sharing it with the class, thereby instilling the idea of trust and supporting each other.

Banaszewski, T. (2002, January/February). Digital storytelling finds its place in the classroom. MultiMedia Schools. Retrieved from http://www.infotoday.com/mmschools/jan02/banaszewski.htm on October 27, 2009.