Avenues for Digital Storytelling in the Classroom
- Colleen Hallett
- Mar 13, 2022
- 2 min read
Encourage student creativity and increase class engagement with "Pixton"
Storytelling is an emotional social activity. Likewise, the act of writing stories enables students to find their own creative voices as they connect elements of their personal identities and experiences with unique narratives. According to Kate Hurst from Paths to Literacy, stories "become part of who we are, what we believe, and how we see our future."
Everyone Has a Story to Tell...
When students are presented with opportunities to tell stories and listen to the stories of others, empathy and compassion are nourished. By incorporating storytelling into classroom routines, teachers can foster a stronger sense of community amongst students. As Christine Hennebury wrote in her article for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador, stories enable us to "gain a deeper understanding of other people's experiences" through modes of creative expression and emotional connection.
Humans have been telling stories since we could speak...we tell stories around the campfire, we write plays, novels, short stories...we make movies, we take photographs, tweet to each other...the list goes on. - Pete Docter, chief creative officer at Pixar
Pixar's creative officer, Pete Docter, says that the best stories are the ones that are written with personal experiences in mind. Watch the video below where Pete introduces students to the process of telling stories from the heart.
What is a digital story?
According to the University of Wallongong, Australia, "a digital story is a multimedia presentation" that blends a range of digital elements (text, images, video, audio and interactive elements) with a greater "narrative structure." Traditional animation techniques take years to master, but students can feel like professional Pixar animators through the use of digital tools such as "Pixton!"
Amateur Animators
Pixton's online comic creator offers a wide range of storyboarding capabilities, where students can bring their stories to life! With inclusive and customizable character builders, actions, and backdrops, anything is possible!
Pixton is a useful tool for online teaching and learning, as students can create storyboards anytime, anywhere!
The platform's high-quality graphics and endless customizations allow students to generate seamless illustrations for their unique stories.
This engaging platform encourages students to consider elements of the world that their characters interact with - much like professional animators at Pixar.
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