Digital storytelling & ePortfolios for language

teaching & learningResearch, stories & ideasAustralia, Alaska, Yukon

Dr Debra HovenAthabasca University, Canada

ADFIUniversity of Southern Queensland

October 31 2014

My story today …• Why I am here … & why are you …?• What is digital storytelling?• Pedagogical roles, uses, purposes• Bilingual, bicultural & immersion

programs• Language recovery & revitalization• Some examples• Technology options: what you can do• How to & with what?

Where am I living now?

http://www.embassyworld.com/maps/Maps_Of_Canada/images/canada_3000.jpg

So what is digital storytelling?

• Your ideas?

So what is digital storytelling? 1…/2

– My ideas?

• “traditional” stories recorded &/or illustrated in digital format

• Sharing stories of life experiences or special events through digital media

• Online logs, journals &/or stories (can be static or interactive) … or …

So what is digital storytelling? 2 …/2

…• Biographical or autobiographical narrations

through or supported by digital media• Collaborative group or community projects

about experiences shared or of shared concern or interest

• Personal &/or emotional reactions to &/or narrations of critical educational, personal or family experiences/events

So what is digital storytelling?

– Can be …• Reflective• Sharing• Presentation• Showcase• Multimedia• Experiential• Experimental • E-portfolio

…. & etc

Digital storytelling: Purposes 1 …/2

– Literacy: L1, L2 … L# + multimedia or digital literacy

– (re-)connecting with heritage/family cultures, traditions & values/beliefs

– Inter-generational communication– Means of expression– Model for other learners/ family

members– Avenue of creativity &/or …

Digital storytelling: Purposes 2 …/2

…– Fun & motivating– Make mainstream curriculum more

meaningful– Help learners find their own L2 “voice”– Link L1 persona, confidence &

communication skills with L2 or L# – Collaborative (inter-generational) creation

& sharing of knowledge– Teaching/learning technical skills … etc

Digital storytelling: diverse but similar

ideas• Some example definitions

– Michael Williams: Australian aboriginal man

– Maniituq Thompson: Inuit woman

An Australian Aboriginal Perspective …

On digital storytelling in aboriginal education

An Inuit Perspective …

… on digital storytelling in bilingual education in Nunavut …

Language for real purposes & audience 1/ …2

• Writing/scripting– Grammar, vocabulary, sentence

structure, genre, register, audience, interest

• Communicating a message• Organizing ideas

Language for real purposes & audience 2/ …2

• Low to high language proficiency• Choice of use of multiple media• Choice of mode• Learner-created content personally

meaningful & motivating• Range of contexts & applications

across curriculum

Language & culture recovery & revitalization

• Some examples … (see handout)– Alaska:

• Russian Mission School, W. Alaska• Yup’ik immersion school, Bethel, W. Alaska• Marshall School• Student blogs & wikis• Alaska Native Knowledge Network

Russian Mission School• Example of student-created

culturally-embedded digital story … (Powerpoint)

Outside is our schoolhttp://www.whatkidscando.org/

specialcollections/student_research_action/russian%20mission/index.html

Ayaprun ElitnaurvikYup’ik immersion school (video)

http://www.nwrel.org/nwedu/09-03/charter.php

Marshall Schoolhttp://youthwiki.wikispaces.com/Marshall+School

%2C+AK (wiki)

Nenana Project (Digital stories & songs)

Suzi’s bloghttp://www.lksd.org/arc/index.html

Kyle’s story

Language & culture recovery & revitalization

• Some Australian examples …– Ara Irititja Projectwww.irititja.com/the_archive/index.html – Waltja Projectwww.waltja.org.au/Ngapartji Ngapartji Projectwww.canberratheatrecentre.com.au/one/

index.html www.nothingrhymeswithngapartji.com/

Ara Irititja Projecthttp://www.irititja.com/the_archive/index.html

Waltja Projecthttp://www.waltja.org.au/default/home.html

Some how-to tools

Ngapartji Ngapartji Project

… says it all …

Thank you!!

• Questions?• Comments?

debrah@athabascau.ca