Educator Samantha Morra has mapped out the typical digital storytelling process in eight steps. You propose an idea, research and explore that proposal and determine its feasibility for adaptation into a script. You begin writing the script, drafting a storyboard or a visual plan for the narrative, then gather all the media you will need. You start editing your project and provide additional visual effects as needed. Once this process is complete, you share your work with others, generate feedback, and reflect on your process.
This is an iterative workflow and a single step is not confined to linear movement. However, you can think of this process as a checklist that you can use to ensure you are reaching each stage of the process.
Start with an idea
Though we have given you a starting point on which to base your digital stories (your life as a researcher), you still need a specific idea around which to craft your story. In this step, you can start the ideation process by writing a free-form, stream of consciousness paragraph or by drawing a concept map, based on your research life. We will also be giving you a few additional concepts for ideation later in the course.
Research and explore
Once you have an idea to pursue, you will want to investigate that idea further, in order to reflect upon the exact narrative you want to convey in your digital story. This may manifest itself through exploratory writing, additional mind-mapping activities, reviewing any journal entries kept during the research process, and so on.
Write/Script
You should begin writing your script next, as this will serve as the basis of your narrative and inform the visual layout of your digital story. A script will also aid you during the recording process, enabling you to keep a tighter grasp on timing, vocal cues, and the overall narrative structure.
Storyboard/Plan
Once you have a script in place, you can start to use a storyboard to elucidate your visual narrative. What media will you use to convey a particular message? What visuals are you pairing with your script to either support or juxtapose a particular point of view? You can decide these questions through the storyboarding process, crafting a blueprint for your digital story – including background music and transitions.
Gather and create assets
The media that you choose will set the tone for your digital story. In this step, you will collect or generate images, audio, and video to feature in your narrative. Use the storyboard to determine what media you need and how your media assets add to the tone and feel of your story. You will also learn more about copyright and Creative Commons licensing later in this course.
Put it all together
With all of your media collected and recorded, you will begin to assemble your content within the WeVideo platform. This is where your story will come alive and you will have the freedom to make editing decisions that can further refine it. Feel free to creatively alter your work as you see fit – it is your story, after all!
Share
You will be able to share your digital stories with your peers in this cohort, as well as Libraries facilitators. The Libraries also hopes to feature some of your stories at the next Scholars’ Studio event on February 16th. You will also be given an opportunity to participate in a screening of all of the digital stories created in this two-week workshop.
Feedback and reflection
This is a personal and reflective workshop that allows you to explore your background and reflect on your own process as a researcher. As such, you will work closely with your peers and participate in group discussions and peer review activities of others’ digital stories. We stress that final products need not be perfect and encourage constructive feedback for your peers. At the end of the workshop, you will be given a chance to evaluate the course and provide a final reflection of your experience as a storyteller.