The power of story still thrills me, guides me, haunts me, and is a motivating force for my life's work. It's transforming power is seen in many formats, such as children's books, storytelling festivals, radio fund raisers for charities, and digital stories. Little did I know that back in 1985, after my dad had died and my oldest child was born at 25 weeks, that the video I created using photos, music, interviews of family memb
ers, and old and new film clips would become what is now called digital storytelling. It was done in VHS format and I spent hours at the back of a video editing studio in Atlanta to create it. Now it can be done in the comfort of my home where I'm surrounded by reminders of the past and present.I know that digitial storytelling will be a part of my future. If I have the opportunity to become a school media specialist, I will find some way to create an area for the learning community (students, staff, and community) to create and archive personal and curriculum-based digital stories. Creating the digital story for this class allowed me to experience the higher level critical thinking skills that are involved in this kind of project, to collect different resources (thank you Dr. Bennett and Kim) and to see the value and use of this in education. I would love to see an archive of images, audio, video, and text created that is based on the Georgia Performance Standards for quick access.
One of our classmates, Vernisa Durden, shared the ebook source Tumblebooks as her Tech Tip. During my full day visit at Luella Elementary (ALA's 2008 Media Center of the Year), media specialist Anne Wallace was excited to show me how students use Tumblebooks on the library computers and at home. Here's the link to Tumblebooks from their website. There's a lot of interacting with books that can occur through this source. Anne Wallace also has an area of the media center for storytelling and facilitates a storytelling club for students. She understands the power of story.
Daddy, your love of story lives on through me. Let me tell you a story.
8 comments:
Anne,
I have not had a chance to look at Tumblebooks, however after your comments on this website, I definitely will look at it. I love the way you wrote about the digital stories on here, the way you incorporated your dad's stories. I love the picture of your baby that was born so early. It is fascinating to me, I had twin girls at 20 weeks, of course they were way too early to survive, but it was amazing to see how perfectly formed they were at 20 weeks, just like your baby at 25 weeks. It is amazing how far technology has come with our "storytelling" just like you stated, the way you had to go and edit in Atlanta in a studio. Storytelling is an awesome thing, and has always been around just produced differently. I would love to hear more about your visit to Luella elementary media center as well, it sounds awesome. Thank you for sharing.
You are so right about digital storytelling! The technology allows you to do so much more beyond just conveying information about a particular subject. The personal element will not only make telling the story fulfilling, but the listener (or veiwer in this case) also walks away with a memorable experience.
Anne –
I too have fond memories of storytelling from my paternal grandmother and maternal grandfather. Each of them (God bless them…) had an uncanny way of telling stories of their lives growing up. Each of them had a strong faith in God. Though from two completely different worlds, their stories have come together over the years to mold me into the woman I am today. In a nutshell, there is one commonality, history. History is something that can not be altered, will likely repeat itself, and is captured through stories, songs, and photos. Thank goodness for them all.
I was further touched by your posting as I read about your eldest child born at 25 weeks. As a brand new mother, I think back to the day my husband and I were told not only the sex of our child, but also the fact that he might be physically and mentally challenged. That day was and forever will be bittersweet! We are now so blessed to be able to say all turned out well. However, that day will always be a story we remind each other of, as well as our son; we would never want to forget the mountains we have overcome. On that same note, at our baby shower/party, we chose to have a photographer and videographer. While the pictures are superb, the video speaks volumes! Our son will be able to look back at “his-story” through the eyes of others and see exactly what was going on prior to his birth. What a story, what a testimony! Thank you for sharing and for reminding me in a very special way just how blessed I am.
Anne,
As always, you give us inspiring posts each week! It's great to hear that you had an opportunity to visit Luella Elementary (I can't wait to go there myself!). Their media center and media specialist really exemplify what can be accomplished with a little determination and perseverance. It's so easy to sit back (as a teacher or media specialist) and take the easy, well-worn path of instruction. But I think it takes a lot to step out and venture into new techniques, technologies, and platforms of education. Luella is a great example of a media center changing/keeping up with the times (they may even be leading the way!). I also have a feeling that that's exactly the kind of great media specialist you will be too!
Anne, What a beautifully written blog. I remember my mom telling me so many stories when I was younger too. She always had a way of making me the heroine of the story and could think of a new adventure every night. I try to do that with my son and fin it isn't easy. I also enjoyed reading aobut your daughter and what you did with all of the videos. My parents still have all the reel to reel movies. I would love to do something with them for a gift some year. Who knows maybe this will inspire me to do that. I also enjoyed looking at your digital story on the Wiki. What a beautiful voice you have! You did an awesome job!
Your posting was beautifully and sensitively written. I loved it and was so moved by it. I cried when I read it. I have lost my dad too and miss his storytelling so much. When I think of him it makes me so sad that I will not hear another story. So for now, I am going to try to remember the ones he told me, sometimes several times. Thank you so much.
Anne,
You write so eloquently. That must be a gift from your father. I believe great writers are born and that then their craft is perfected over time and through practice. I am also a lover of "the story." It is that love of writing (and a great English teacher) that inspired me to become a high school English teacher. It is also that love that inspired me to work towards becoming a media specialist.
I too have been moved by the digital stories I have seen from our classmates and want to help assist teachers in engaging their students using this creative format. What an amazing way to engage students and to reach those higher level thinking skills without students even realizing that they have done so. I definitely believe in trickery. : ) Thanks for sharing your story and your insights with us all.
Anne, thanks for sharing your story. I also have fond memories of my father. I like the idea of putting his story into today's technology. After reading your post, I will go call mom to see if she has the 8mm reels of tapes. I would like to put something together for the family, now that its been over 30 years since his death.
On another note, I also think that there should be some links to digital story telling through the Georgia Performance Standards.
You know, after putting my movie maker production together-(It was covering ancient Greece) It really makes me think about the many, many stories told over the thousands of years- and retold- over and over; all of which could be recorded digitally for all to hear.
Dorina
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