Digital storytelling tools for young learners by Özge Karaoglu Ergen © Cambridge University Press 2012
21st century technology has added a new twist to traditional storytelling. We can now easily create digital stories beyond the scope of pen and pencil. Technology has become a powerful learning tool, both in and out of the classroom, which engages students in their own learning by giving them a chance to be in the director’s chair. It stimulates imagination and sparks creativity by giving students a voice, motivating them, capturing their attention with different multimedia options and encouraging shy students to get involved. Technology opens up new opportunities to increase collaboration and interaction in the classroom by engaging children in more advanced cognitive activities.
Interactive web tools
There are numerous online tools that allow learners to create digital stories in different ways; from creating animations and movies to recording their own voices. Here are some examples of interactive web tools that we can use to tell colourful, digital stories in young learners’ classes: Storybird is a collaborative tool that lets you create stories using a wide range of artwork from different illustrators. Without requiring any artistic talent, you start writing the text of your stories by choosing pictures from the art gallery. Storybird also allows you to collaborate with others to work on the same story. Children can work on the same project to create a class story or they can create their own unique stories using the same initial picture and text. Children can create their own stories about the themes that they are interested in.