Laura Nigro
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Ontario Tech University
Abstract
This chapter explores digital storytelling and how it can be used in delivering mathematical lessons. Digital storytelling incorporates storytelling elements and educational technologies. Educational technologies are important to explore as they help students develop 21s century learning skills, active learning, and student engagement. The literature review section explores different studies surrounding digital storytelling and specific studies in mathematic instruction. This chapter further looks at how digital storytelling can effectively be applied in the TPACK model. Digital storytelling can be used in the Ontario math curriculum, particularly in the strand on social and emotional learning. It also lends itself well to creating and solving rich math tasks. Digital storytelling can also be used in the instructional process for planning and delivering lessons.
Keywords
active learning, collaboration, critical thinking, digital storytelling, mathematics, student engagement
Introduction
Technology in education needs to be incorporated in a meaningful way. Education is vastly changing as technology expands and the needs of students change. It is important to utilize technological tools and foster 21st century learning skills in the modern-day learner. Students are bombarded daily with information, and it is important to be able to sift through new ideas and connect it to prior knowledge. This skill set incorporates both critical thinking and collaboration. Collaboration is a necessary skill that applies to all stakeholders in education.
Storytelling as a teaching tool is beneficial because it helps with developing language skills, memorization, supporting motivation, creativity, engagement, and problem-solving skills (Albano & Iacono, 2019). Digital storytelling (DST) is specifically known as a twenty-first century learning model that incorporates multimodal elements in a story (Niemi, et al., 2018). DST combines digital multimedia such as images and video, with the art of telling stories (Robin, 2008). There are seven elements of DST that have been identified that serve as a framework for starting with digital stories (Lambert, 2007). These elements are point of view, a dramatic question, emotional content, the gift of your voice, the power of the soundtrack, economy, and pacing (Lambert, 2007). Digital stories can be classified into three major types: personal narratives, historical documentaries, and stories designed to inform or instruct; however, they can also consist of a combination of the three (Robin, 2008). DST helps develop 21st century learning skills in creativity and innovation, collaboration, and critical thinking. Technology tools such as Procreate (Savage, 2021), Minecraft for Education (Miscrosoft, 2022), Cantoo Scribe (formerly MathEOS) (Cantoo, n.d.), and Storyboard That (Clever Prototypes, 2022) are some of the tools that can be used to create digital stories.
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