Engaging Online Applications:  Scrapblog, Voicethread, Flipbook, Toondoo, Slideshare, Slidecast...

I believe that digital story-telling offers tremendous potential, especially for reluctant writers and those with writing challenges.  BUT, digital story-telling is also a wonderful UDL tool for engaging ALL students (and their teachers).  Within the broad genre of digital story-telling there are multiple modes of expression and countless ways to represent learning.  Digital story-telling is inclusive  because it levels the playing field for learners with special needs.  When using technology that is freely available today, anyone can create a high quality product, and any author can take pride in his or her work.

 

The range of options available today for digital story-telling is breathtaking.  Most options involve the Read/Write Web or "Web 2.0" technology. This adds a powerful motivation factor. Learners are generally motivated by the opportunity to share what they create with a wider world that includes not only classmates, family, and friends, but also a global audience.

 

Of all the online applications for digital story-telling that I've tried, my favourite is Voicethread.  Virtually all of the apps are built around a way of presenting images, with some form of accompanying verbal commentary or narration.  I like Voicethread because the story-teller can choose to use either a microphone for audio narration or a text bubble for written comments. Responses to the story can also be either spoken or written.

 

 

For anyone wishing to check out the online possiblities, probably the best place to start is Alan Levine's wonderful wiki: 50 Web 2.0 Ways to Tell a Story (see immediately below for the link). Alan helpfully describes each application and then shows examples.  Although Alan's list is extensive, it isn't exhaustive.  There are also standalone programs that facilitate digital story-telling.  Powerpoint is ubiquitous, and can be made to do an effective job.  There are even ways of sharing powerpoint presentations online.  Another PC application, that I like is Photo Story 2--a free download from Microsoft.  I'm sure there are numerous great applications available for the Mac.

 

 

50 Web 2.0 Ways to Tell a Story (Allan Levine Wiki)

Example of a Voicethread

 Example of a Scrapblog

Using Voicethread AND Scrapblog to create a presentation:

Example of a Flipbook (You have to click on "Slideshow" to start the slideshow.)

    Slideshare:  A fantastic medium for creativity, writing, digital story-telling, and more.

   

Slidecasting on Slideshare

    This is a brand new application that is incredibly easy to create and put together!

Example of BubbleShare (two formats available, with either text bubble captions or audio comments)

Now here are a couple of examples of another one to check out.  This one's called Toondo.  This let's you create and  share cartoons, perhaps a motivator and platform to do a little writing along with some other creative expression.

    To show how easy Toondoo is to use, here's one I put together in just a few minutes when I tried it out.