I would like to begin by saying that I had some idea of what digital storytelling is, but have now discovered how much I really did not know. Digital storytelling is all around us and has many different applications. Digital stories are used to inform, instruct, and even to sell products. I have investigated and discovered different nuances of what makes a digital story really work well. The use of music, narration, and an element of interactivity are very important when engaging an audience. I have also discovered that digital stories can be composed by many different people including middle school students through college graduate students, and just about anybody else given the tools and resources to do so.

Moving forward I am going to plan on investigating how digital stories can be applied with adult learners in a corporate type of environment. There are many things to consider such as the participants, the time allowed, resources, and topics. I have presented this idea to my team and they are intrigued. After that brief discussion we concluded that having these adult learners compose digital stories is possible, but the set-up and framing is very important to help guarantee a positive and productive outcome. In short, I would like to learn more about how successful digital storytelling is in corporate environments and how this tool can be applied to leadership development.

Outside of my own participation, my peers have been an incredible resource and an important part of the discovery process. Without meeting any peers directly, I have built an idea of many of their personalities and what is important or interesting to them. Whether it was a just a picture or a very thoughtful response or critique, what was shared is important to my experience. I have visited many blogs and Twitter pages. Below you will find some examples of that engagement.

Lisa Fish

Reading Response: Convergence Culture

http://techyfishgirl.com/2016/09/27/reading-response-convergence-culture/

lisafish_convergence_culture

This is an interesting response to the use of media in shaping not only who we are but also how large media outlets are responding. This is referred to as Convergence Culture and more clearly describes the mingling of old and new media. One outcome of this is the increased nature of collaboration in improving products or bringing new products to market. This clearly demonstrated how far multi media has supported a fabric of many different individuals and cultures. As the article states, we have all become knowledge workers contributing through this Convergence Culture.

Kelly Santa Maria

Daily Create 9/28 #tdc1725

https://kellysantamaria.wordpress.com/2016/09/28/daily-create-928/

kelly_santamaria_dailycreate

I contributed to this particular Daily Create, Concentric Circles. When I first saw this post I did not immediately see the concentric circles. I was thinking along the line of what I submitted. To me, concentric circles were placed one on top of the other, distinguishable by their size. What this post helped me realize is individual perspectives. I deliver training for leadership development and a primary topic is perspectives. I was reminded of the importance of not jumping to conclusions, but pausing for a moment to gain a better understanding. During that contemplation the concentric circles fell into place.

David Sampson

Reading Response: Virtual reality and the future of storytelling

https://dms36963.net/2016/10/14/virtual-reality-and-the-future-of-storytelling/

david_sampson_vr

Virtual reality (VR) has intrigued me for some time. This is interesting to me because I would like to learn more about how this technology can be applied to manufacturing in training scenarios. I appreciate the way David approaches this topic and the examples given. He suggests that this technology could be used as a powerful digital storytelling tool by providing some very pointed examples. While I initially found these examples to be graphic, I concluded that they are important issues facing our society. There is no doubt that VR can be a very powerful and engaging tool to tell a story. After reading this post I realized that VR is more than I had previously given it credit for. I know that VR is great for entertainment and has some promise in medical and industrial applications. I now know that it can also be a very powerful social tool to tell a story.

Hani Park

Digital Story Critique – Draw My Life: SeaWorld Edition

https://medium.com/@HaniPark/week-7-my-digital-story-critique-draw-my-life-seaworld-edition-445f111bc48d#.cjb5fsmuk

hani_park

I found this story interesting and immediately engaging in a powerful and emotional way. This is an important story to me because it targets the idea that a digital story can provide a voice where there is not one. By humanizing the Orca it drives the viewer to pay attention. Hani’s writing style is also engaging and provides a personal touch. While I have mixed feelings about zoos and aquariums I do recognize that these institutions provide some value in the research of animals. Some animals are so endangered that without this type of human intervention they would have been lost long ago. The use of voice here is the strongest element and the basic almost childlike animation is very appropriate. There is a call to action and it is so obvious that it can be missed. Toward the end the story, it is asked that we stop visiting SeaWorld. Overall this is a great example of a digital story and I appreciate that it accomplishes the message in only a few minutes. I think brevity is a strong attribute.

Nick Grimes

Digital Story Critique – Growing Up in a Virtual World

https://ngrimesblog.wordpress.com/2016/09/29/growing-up-in-a-virtual-world-digital-story-critique/

nick_grimes

This TED Talk given by David Perry and critiqued by Nick Grimes is a common theme. How will we grapple with the increasing and unavoidable interaction with technology? How are future generations going to be affected by the accelerating advancement of virtual reality and gaming? Video game developers are now very aware of the need to create a story within the game to drive engagement. There are games that don’t provide a story, but are developed in such a way that the participant is able to build their own story. I find this intriguing because of the generational differences in the work place. I recently viewed a presentation given by ATD that focused on what Millennials find important in the workplace and the conclusion was that emotional intelligence was very important. DOW Chemical Is already changing the way they approach Millennials because of this. I wonder, has the advancement of digital storytelling had an affect on this development?

Robert Piper

Digital Story Critique – The Bookmobile

http://robertfpiper.com/uncategorized/digital-story-response-no-6-the-bookmobile

robert_piper

A digital story that addresses the traditional written stories is quite charming. What stood out to me was the inquisitive nature of Storm Reyes and what has led her down a different path that provided fulfillment. This is a very basic story that accomplishes quite a bit in just a short period of time. This story shows me how easily a story can be composed. The gentle intro and the music in the background immediately set the tone and the narration and animation compliment things nicely. Again, this is an important story that not only quickly and accurately informs us of Storm Reyes’ life, but that also allows us to consider a different perspective. I like learning about others perspectives. Through our different backgrounds we begin to learn how similar we all truly are.

In conclusion, I have learned much more about digital storytelling than I had anticipated. I enjoy exploring the resources that peers find and the response of critiques they provide. I’m looking forward to what the rest of this semester brings.