Using Digital Storytelling to introduce RipMixLearners to

TechnologyBy

Andre Daniels Digital Media co-ordinator

Alice Wamundiya

Shayna Adams

Ebrehim Vasta

Context

• Digital Media supports academics & students with multimedia-related tasks

• RMLers Project started in 2008 as a student-driven approach to creating Open Content

• 2005 Introduction to Digital Storytelling

Challenges

• SA’s shortage of required skills• Once off training have limited impact• How to keep SA’s occupied when workload is

sporadic• How to create a Community of practice• Keeping student’s motivated

Where did it all start?• origins in the work of the nonprofit, Berkeley-based

Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS) (http://www.storycenter.org).

• 2005 Amy Hill and Daniel Weinshencker from the Centre for Digital Storytelling

• HIV/ AIDS programme

• Technical Support

Workshop ProcessStory circle

Script

Voiceover/Narration

Software training

Final Export

Screening & evaluation Post-production

Software

• Audacity

•Premiere /Moviemaker

•www, e-mail

•Scanning

•Audacity

•DVD authoring software

•Photoshop /GIMP

Hardware

• Computer/laptop• Headsets• Scanner• Printer• Flashdrives• Paper and pen• LCD projector & speakers• Cameras/ cellphones

Why we use Digital Storytelling?

• Develops skills required to work withinDigital Media environment

• We love telling stories

• Fun-aspect

• Helps the development of a community of practice

• Encourages transfer and sharing of skills• Places the student at the centre of their own learning

Method

• 10 RMLers from various faculties• Write stories of choice of about 500 words• Develop scripts• Stories no longer than 5 minutes• Record individual narrations• Regular feedback via e-mail and one –on one

Developing the script

• Students were asked to write a story of no longer than 500 words on a topic of their choice.

• Examples of Digital Stories were shown to students to give them an idea of what the finished product would look like.

• The stories were e-mailed to me for editing and reworked into a short script.

The focus would be on developing the technical skills which allowed greater freedom in forming their script.

Challenges of our method

• Can take longer than workshop format to complete

• Requires individual attention• Some students are perfectionists…• Language barrier• Personal agendas• “older” RMLers procrastinate

more on tasks…• motivation

Advantages of our method

• Skills transfer• Ample time to gather personal photos• Not as emotionally charged• Good way of getting to know your students

and each other.• Encourages creativity• Encourages a remix culture • Students are motivating each other

Working with Journalism students

• 4 post-graduate students of Digital cultures course

• Provided technical support and advice• 5 week course 1 – 2 hour contact time• Were able to learn from students who

were more adept with the technology.• Students use productions as part of their

portfolio

Post-production?

• Conversion and compression• DVD authoring• Uploading to RMLsite• Contribute to e-portfolio• Upload to Youtube• Marketing tool• Bragging rights

Advantages /pedagogical value

• e-literacy (File management, Internet browsing and downloading etc.)

• Visual-literacy (pace, timing, transitions etc.)• Encourages a remix culture• Produce new knowledge• Gives “voice”• Builds self-esteem• Process/ workflow• Analogue world to Digital• ePortfolios

Considerations

• Use FOSS/proprietary software?• Value for student first• Time invested and training needed (fit for

purpose)

• Final product (how can it add value to teaching and learning in an environment of scarce resources)

• Submission formats• Assessment (What assessment criteria will be used)

• Ethical considerations and ownership

Thank you

http://www.silencespeaks.org

http://www.storiesforchange.net

http://free.uwc.ac.za/ripmixlearners