How can digital storytelling be used to engage students in science?

1 Benefits of digital storytelling

Digital storytelling can enhance your students' science learning in several ways. First, it can help them develop their scientific literacy, which is the ability to understand and communicate scientific information and ideas. By creating and sharing stories, your students can practice using scientific vocabulary, evidence, and arguments, as well as develop their critical thinking and creativity skills. Second, it can increase their engagement and interest in science, as they can choose topics and formats that appeal to them, and connect science to their personal experiences, values, and emotions. Third, it can foster their collaboration and communication skills, as they can work in teams, give and receive feedback, and present their stories to different audiences.

2 Planning your project

Before you start your digital storytelling project, you need to plan some key aspects, such as the learning objectives, the assessment criteria, the timeline, and the resources. You should align your project with the curriculum standards and the science content that you want your students to learn. You should also define the expectations and outcomes of the project, and how you will evaluate your students' work. You should consider how much time and support your students will need to complete the project, and how you will organize the workflow and the deadlines. Finally, you should select the digital tools and media that you and your students will use, such as online platforms, software, apps, images, audio, video, etc.

3 Choosing a story type

When creating digital stories for science education, you can choose from different types depending on your project's purpose and audience. Explanation stories, for instance, can help students understand and apply complex or abstract concepts to real-world situations. Inquiry stories document a scientific investigation, such as a question, hypothesis, method, result, and conclusion. Personal stories relate a personal experience or perspective on a scientific topic or issue, while persuasion stories argue for or against a scientific claim using evidence and reasoning. All of these types of stories can help students make connections between science and their lives, values, and emotions while also developing their argumentation and persuasion skills.

4 Creating a story

To create a digital story, your students need to follow a process that involves several steps. They should begin by researching their chosen topic, using reliable sources and methods. Then they should write a narrative that organizes their ideas and information into a coherent and engaging story, with a clear structure, language, and tone. After that, they should plan the visual and audio elements of their story, such as images, video, sound, and music. After production with the digital tools and media that you have selected, they should review and improve their story based on the feedback they receive from you or other sources.

5 Sharing a story

The final step of the digital storytelling project is to share the stories with an audience, such as the class, the school, the community, or the public. This can help your students demonstrate their work, celebrate their accomplishments, and learn from others. There are various strategies to share the stories, such as online platforms like websites, blogs, social media, podcasts, and more. You can also organize events like exhibitions, festivals, or conferences for live presentations. Additionally, you can contact local or national media outlets for publication or broadcast of your stories.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?