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Originally appears in the Winter 2022 issue.

By Amanda Lin

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted student learning in various ways. We live in a connected society where most of our lives are documented and uploaded in the cyber world. The way that our learners access information and consume media raises important considerations. We have seen how the pandemic has rocked our education context and shifted it from a physical place of teaching to a remote or hybrid one. Recently, I was abruptly tasked with preparing online materials for my 18 Grade 7/8 students. Given their comfort with digital technology, using it in my daily practices had often seemed to incentivize their engagement in projects. Yet, going fully digital became my worst nightmare. I did, however, remind myself that applying storytelling as a tool to connect with my students was something I had always done with absolute success. I wondered, then, if these digital natives would have even more to say if they were given the opportunity to share their stories digitally. What follows are insights for how to utilize digital storytelling with middle and high school students as well as a sample lesson.

The utility of storytelling

Digital storytelling is a way for students to work through and reflect on their own journeys through a mixed-media approach. It is by no means a replacement for traditional forms of storytelling — rather, it is an extension of how stories can be told in the contemporary world. 

As children, we are told stories before bed, and we create stories in our minds. These stories help us make sense of the evolving world around us. When we first enter school, we are told stories on the carpet through an audiobook, by the teacher, or perhaps with puppets. But as students get a little older and their social dynamic changes, they thrive on surrounding themselves with people who share similar views and struggles. It becomes less about hearing already-written stories and more about creating them. When students create stories with their own narratives at the center, it allows for a greater depth of discussion and reflection for not only themselves, but also with their peers. By telling their own stories, students can also more easily find their own voices through their writing. As they begin to share their journeys with others, they are able to understand different perspectives.