The This I Believe digital storytelling process is one that students struggle with because they are asked to think about their writing and themselves in a way they have not done before. Granted it is a challenge to tell the story of how you came to a belief, but that challenge enhances the power of story. Too many times students are asked to read the stories of other peoples lives and I like that, in this class, we take the notion and turn it about. Students tell a portion of their life and the results are not unexpected. For the most part, students find they have a lot to say about their personal story and the impact it had on their life.
The process itself takes time, but the process is more important than the product. If students spend sufficient time working through the process their work shows in the product - a direct application of what anyone should hope to accomplish in their lives.
Using the power of story as a catalyst for understanding the life events of characters in a novel acts as a gateway to deeper understanding of the work itself - and ultimately themselves.
Digital storytelling is a difficult road paved with speed bumps, but isn't that much like life anyway?
The process itself takes time, but the process is more important than the product. If students spend sufficient time working through the process their work shows in the product - a direct application of what anyone should hope to accomplish in their lives.
Using the power of story as a catalyst for understanding the life events of characters in a novel acts as a gateway to deeper understanding of the work itself - and ultimately themselves.
Digital storytelling is a difficult road paved with speed bumps, but isn't that much like life anyway?