The Digital Story

I love documentaries. I would watch them all the time, if I had the time. I think I enjoy them so much because they can bring you anywhere you want to go, make you feel like an expert on any topic, and can be made by anyone.
Digital Storytelling is a sort of extension on this idea of a documentary, but shorter and even more accessible. As explained on 7 things to know:Digital Storytelling; start with a script or story you want to share, add music, pictures and/or animation, piece together, edit and share. Typically short in length, but its up to you how long your story takes to tell.
Digital Storytelling is a great way for students and teachers alike to share their human experience, promote cultural awareness, and introduce a new topic in a fun way that caters to your visual learners. The possibilities are
endless because anyone can create one.
I watched several on this website that focuses on Digital Storytelling and the educational uses. The topics ranged from a Japanese student adjusting to American life, decision making, and the Holocaust. I was able to watch several because they ranged from four minutes to nine minutes in length.
This could be a wonderful tool in an ELL or any multicultural classroom. The act of sharing your history and background with classmates would help create a sense of community while getting students to think critically about what they are publishing online.