Telling Tales: Digital Storytelling in Vocational Education and Training in Australia
Digital Stories are short ‘mini-movies’ around 3 minutes long combining images, a narrated text (or voice over) and often music. They’re constructed easily on a computer with basic hardware and software; short engaging multimodal messages that are both fun to make and engaging to watch. The primary focus is on the script; a well designed oral ‘text’ combined with carefully selected images can create a powerful communication tool.
In Australia, there is a growing interest in the use of Digital Storytelling in adult education and training. Teachers are using the methodology to re-engage learners and enrich their teaching practice. In a sector that has over relied on written text; the beauty of digital stories is that they offer an alternative for those seeking or needing a more multimodal approach to teaching, learning and communication. They’re using the concept to produce teaching resources, promotional materials and reports. For learners, particularly those who are not confident in more traditional forms of written communication, they provide a ‘voice’, an opportunity to tell a ‘story’ or capture learning.
We need to both maximise the benefits that technology offers learners and build the capacity of learners to use technology with skill, creativity and confidence. Digital Storytelling is a great ‘hook’ into the world of new technologies for both learners and hesitant teachers where the mastery of skills occurs on a ‘need to know’ basis, through ‘learning by stealth’.
Keywords: Digital storytelling, Narrative, Adult education, Vocational Education and Training, New Technologies, Literacies, Literacy, Teaching Practice, Multimodal, Disengaged Learners, Voice
Robyn Jay
LearnScope NSW Project Officer, International Centre for Vocational Education and Training (VET) Teaching and Learning, TAFE NSW
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Robyn was a Flexible Learning Leader in 2003 and has a strong interest in how new technologies can enrich teaching practice and provide more accessible options for ALL learners. In particular, Robyn has supported adult literacy practitioners to expand their skills and confidence in using technology and in doing so has challenged traditional notions of ‘literacy’ to better reflect the complexities of lives and communities today.
In 2004 Robyn was the winner of the NSW Adult Learners Week ‘Innovation in Learning’ inaugural award, and in 2005 received a national (DEST) Ministers Award for Outstanding Contribution to Improving Literacy and Numeracy.
Robyn is currently vice-president for the Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL) and facilitates the national Literacy Live online network which makes use of a range of online tools to enable adult literacy practitioners to connect and access professional development regardless of location or circumstance.
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