Digital Storytelling and Critical Literacy

Where are the connections between digital storytelling and critical literacy? It becomes clear when a comparison is made between theater and a political rally. In the theater, the audience suspends any disbelief and enjoys the production. At a political rally the demand on the audience is to analyze every statement or claim and question its authenticity. According to Jason Ohler, teachers can use digital storytelling to harness the persuasive power of the story form through a process that combines it with reflection, problem solving and reasoned thinking. When students blend storytelling with analysis, it is the best of both worlds.


Questions about storytelling in the classroom for teachers:

1. How can you as a teacher use storytelling and digital media in content areas in your classroom?
2. What are the elements of story that a story should include to be effective?
3. What different kinds of stories are there, and how do they apply to education?
4. When do you use oral storytelling vs. digital storytelling? How do you use them together?
5. How do you combine the essential DOAW storytelling literacies: digital, art, oral literacy, written literacy?
6. What is the role of media literacy - that is, understanding the theory and mechanics of persuasion with media - in teaching storytelling?

These questions are excerpts from Jason Ohlers website. It is a great site detailing the process of using digital storytelling in the classroom and worth the time to visit www.jasonohler.com/storytelling/storyeducation.cfm