Some Intro

Storytelling, in all its forms of expressions, is a fundamental tool in teaching.

To tell a story is to communicate, to connect, to pass meaningful messages and morals, through the course of stories, which means to teach. In our days rapid technological developments and new digital techniques to narrate stories are evolving. Mastering these new tools is essential for teachers if they are to speak the same language as their young learners, who are digital natives.

The course will help participants improve their capacity for digital storytelling by instructing them on the use of the most effective applications and software. Course attendees will discover an array of digital tools available to work on a story of digital format, with a clear educational value.

Description

Many students love to tell stories but struggle with writing them down and experience a lot of stress during tests and exams. Using their digital skills to create stories will increase their critical thinking and soft skills. This course focuses on digital classroom student collaboration which can enhance their learning experience.

In this course, participants will learn how to create digitized stories using applications which can be important storytelling tools.

The course will help teachers improve their capacity for digital storytelling by instructing them on the use of the most effective applications and software. Course attendees will discover an array of digital tools available to work on a digital story, which will have a clear educational value.

Participants will also learn to use web-based templates and new applications for delivering audiovisual materials to complete a digital story project. This project will be prepared as a practical activity during the course and presented by course participants on the final day of the course.

By the end of the training, teachers will have developed new skills on how to create and develop digital stories in a classroom setting using a wide variety of online tools and will be ready to effectively use digital storytelling in their educational programmes.

At the end of the course, participants will know how to include storytelling in their lessons, they will know how to build captivating stories, structure narratives, and finally, they will be able to share this new knowledge with their students.

This course will help them to build a network of international colleagues, exchange ideas, gain valuable skills, and practice their English language skills.

Objectives

• To create a digital story for use as an anticipatory set or hook for a lesson;
• To enhance current lesson plans with the use of a digital story within a teaching unit
• To assign student-created stories, which requires students to research a topic from a particular point of view
• To increase computer skills using software that combines a variety of multimedia including: text, still images, audio, video and web publishing
• To appeal to the diverse learning styles of students by using Digital Storytelling as a presentation media
• To generate interest, attention and motivation for the "digital generation" kids in our classrooms;
• To promote the accomplishment of cross-curricular academic standards and learning objectives
• To develop communication and collaboration skills for the participants and the teachers as well

Who is this course for

This course is aimed at teachers and school staff from pre-school level to primary, secondary, vocational, adult and special needs education, staff of non-government organizations, government and policy makers and company staff as well as students and all those interested in innovative ways in education to stimulate engagement and critical thinking. Participants are expected to have at least B1 level of English proficiency

Methodology

Digital storytelling empowers students to be confident communicators and creators of media as they gain essential 21st-century literacy skills and reach deeper understanding in all areas of the curriculum.

This technique is a combination of conventional storytelling methods and new technology. With increasing availability of computerized devices in schools, various forms of digital media production have become quite common as approaches to learning.

Throughout this course the participants will have a unique opportunity to learn and practice digital tools with a hands-on approach for the creation of various types of digitized stories (animations, comics, stop motion videos). The tools selected promote collaboration and the development of skills such as creativity and critical thinking.

Additionally, participants will discuss the educational use of digital stories with different groups of learners to motivate them and make their teaching more inspiring and successful.

Agenda/Course schedule

5 days programme

Day 1

• Introduction to the course
• Icebreaker activities for trust and group building
• Identification of needs and goals of the participants
• Introduction to Storytelling and the educational dimension of it
• What makes a good story?
• Media tools for digital storytelling

Day 2

• A general look to digital storytelling process
• Phases of the digital storytelling development from its starting point
• Creating a plan for the teaching of digital storytelling
• Creating the digital story
• Using web2 tools to create a digital classroom

Day 3

• Creating a Storyboard
• Recording Narrations through smartphone apps
• Blended methods of digital education and storytelling
• Animations and comics (applications and tools that are easy to learn and use with students in class)

Day 4

• An introduction to Stop motion videos
• Basic short film making with Stop Motion
• MS Photo and Video Editor
• Free online tools for educators and students to use (apps, websites, web 2.0, etc.)
• How can I use digital storytelling in practice? – An action plan

Day 5

• Workshop Day/Practice Day: Creation of a digital story
• Projects on screen: Presentation of stories created
• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion
• Awarding of the Certificate of Attendance of the course

01-05.05.2023 Thessaloniki

03-07.07.2023 Larissa

28.08-01.09.2023 Athens