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Video projects in the classroom can look like a multitude of things: Slideshow/Whiteboard animations, talking head narrations, recorded interviews, digital storytelling, creating book/video trailers in place of book report presentations, historical recreations, etc. 

In this box we will focus on the benefits of Digital Storytelling; specifically Video Storytelling.

What is Digital Storytelling?

By definition, Digital Storytelling is simply telling a story with some form of digital media. While digital storytelling can also cover podcasts, digital graphic arts and other still media, video storytelling allows the learner to collect audio and video clips to communicate information – be it a historical event, scientific concept, narrative story, etc.

In line with traditional narrative storytelling, the digital representation will focus on one topic, and can vary in length – traditionally being anywhere between 2 and 10 minutes. They can be montages of clips and B-roll, or showcasing phots, with narration or voice over, they can be video acting, clips of interviews, etc. They can include soundtracks and/or voice audio as the creator deems necessary for the narrative.

In education, there are 10 elements to a digital storytelling assignment as defined by the University of Houston’s Education Department:

1. The Overall Purpose of the Story
2. The Narrator’s Point of View
3. A Dramatic Question or Questions
4. The Choice of Content
5. Clarity of Voice
6. Pacing of the Narrative
7. Use of a Meaningful Audio Soundtrack
8. Quality of the Images, Video & other Multimedia Elements
9. Economy of the Story Detail
10. Good Grammar and Language Usage

Depending on the topic, purpose of the digital story, and field of study, each element may be emphasized, diluted or appear differently, but all 10 elements are necessary to make a good Digital Storytelling project.