Welcome to The Psychology and Media of Story III - the second sequel.
As explained at the Winter Session, you will have four major projects:
- Blogfolio. blog + portfolio – blogfolio). You will post and/or link to all the material you create for this course via your blogfolio.
- New media narrative project #1 - an autobiography. An autobiographical piece of new media, with accompanying blog entry, story map, script and reflection.
- New media narrative project #2 - a story. A digital story or documentary, with accompanying blog entry, story map, script and reflection.
- Story paper. A 6-8 page paper that summarizes your understanding of story and how story can be used in your professional practice.
The contract and assessment rubrics are available through links in the sidebar on the right.
1. A blogfolio
Using one of the many free blogging services available to you (blogger.com, wordpress.com, edublogs.org, etc.) create a blogfolio. This is simply a blog used as your portfolio for this class. The goal is to create a professional portfolio that you could show others who are interested in your work. While you are welcome to have colleagues comment to your work on your blog, you may want to edit this at the end of the class to preserve a portfolio look and feel. Up to you.
Be advised that there are other ways to create an electronic portfolio, such as Ning or even MySpace. You are welcome to use any approach that meets the objective of this activity.
2. New Media Narrative Project #1: An autobiographical piece
Suggested length: 2-3 minutes.
Description: Create a piece of new media narrative that explains something important about you. It should be searching, interesting, and use the principles of the “the story core” as explained at the Winter Session, as well as in chapters five and six of the book, Digital Storytelling in the Classroom.
Final products for this assignment include:
- A story map. This is described in the story map section of the appendix.
- A script. This is described in the scripting section of the appendix.
- Blog entry. One to two paragraphs on your blog describing your piece; embed a link to your piece within this description.
- Posted media piece. This can be posted on YouTube, TeacherTube or other video hosting service. As mentioned above, link to this from within your two-paragraph description.
- Your “interview reflection.” A description of the interview reflection assignment appears in the interview reflection section of the appendix.
Suggested length: 3-4 minutes
Description: Create a piece of new media narrative that you feel qualifies as a story or documentary. It should incorporate storytelling principles as you understand them from the readings, including but not limited to the principles of “the story core” as explained at the Winter Session, as well as in chapters five and six of the book, Digital Storytelling in the Classroom.
Final products for this assignment include:
- A story map. A description of the interview reflection assignment appears in the appendix of this posting.
- A script. Scripting is addressed in the scripting section of the appendix.
- Blog entry. One to two paragraphs on your blog describing your piece; embed a link to your piece within this description.
- Your posted media piece. This can be posted on YouTube, TeacherTube or other video hosting service. As mentioned above, link to this from within your two-paragraph description.
- Your “interview reflection.” This is described in the appendix of this posting.
Suggested length: 6-8 pages. Absolutely no more than 8 pages.
Description: This paper should address two questions:
- What is an effective story? Based upon the readings/viewings for this course, as well as your own experiences in this course and in your professional life, what constitutes an effective story?
- How will you use storytelling professionally? Based upon the readings/viewings for this course, as well as your own experiences in this course and in your professional life, how does your understanding of narrative and storytelling impact your professional life? That is, how will you use story, storytelling and your understanding of the psychology and media of story in your professional practice?
Suggested schedule
For those in Cohort #1 (february - August, 2009). Here are suggested due dates:
- January 20- Blog up. Have your blog up and running; be sure to provide me the web address; I will add it to our class blog.
- April 1- Have your first media piece completed. This includes posting your planning document and "reflective interview" on your blog, and your final piece posted on a video hosting service. This is explained in the syllabus, which you can download through our course website. Post your map by February 7; tell me about it. Let's talk. Then create your script. Talk to me about it. Then begin production.
- June 1- Have your second media piece completed. This includes posting your planning document and "reflective interview" on your blog, and your final piece posted on a video hosting service. This is explained in the syllabus, which you can download through our course website. Post your map by May 7; tell me about it. Then create your script. Talk to me about it. Then begin production.
- July 1- Have your "story paper" completed and posted. This is explained in the syllabus, which you can download through our course website.
- August 1- Finalize blog. Make sure your blog is completely updated, good to go.
Process is important in a few respects:
- Read books first? At least scan them. Required and suggested readings for this course appear in the readling list at the end of this blog entry. You may choose to read the required books first, prior to creating your media narrative pieces. Or you may choose to read them after, in preparation for your paper. But you will need to at least scan chapters 5 and 6 of Digital Storytelling in the Classroom in order to create the story maps required for your media pieces. Also, part III of that book provides a number of graphics that can help you organize your work. However, when you do a detailed reading – whether before or after you create your media – is up to you.
- Post or send me your planning documents before you commence production! If you create your planning materials, and then create your media without touching base with me, I am of little use to you. That is, my best chance of helping you create effective new media is in the planning stage. Once you have entered production, it is often to late to change course. So, before beginning the production, please do the following:
- Post your story map. Media production begins with your map. Post it to your blog and I will look at it promptly and turn it around quickly. This is my best chance to interact with your piece. I address story mapping and how to post a story in the story mapping section of the appendix.
- Then send me your script. Once you have mapped your piece, then script it. Again, I will give it a quick turn around time. This is my second best chance to interact with your piece. I explain more about scripting in the script section of the appendix.
- What about storyboarding? I am all for storyboarding. It will help you stay on task and organize your work. It is much more important for longer pieces (generally over two minutes) than for shorter pieces. But, storyboarding is not an effective tool to use to make sure you have an effective story, only that your story flows effectively. Thus the use of story maps. However, feel free to also create a storyboard and post it if you like.
Appendix
Story maps
For each media piece you will create a story and a script as part of the media planning process. Because story mapping is common to both media projects you do for this course, I opted to describe it once in the appendix rather than twice for each project description above.
What is a story map? I covered this at Winter Session, but here is a thumbnail overview. A story map focuses on plotting the flow of emotion in a story, vs. a storyboard, which plots the flow of motion. Storyboards are wonderful tools, but often they can just ensure that a boring story flows logically. On the other hand, story mapping helps you make sure that your story is compelling and engaging. Story mapping is covered in detail in Part II of book.
Which map should I use? I provide a number of examples of story maps in my book. Feel free to use any one of those, or create your own. What I am looking for is the presence of the story core (problem-transformation-resolution), with an overlay of some plot information. As an example, one student used a stick figure as a story map. The story started on one hand, flowed through the heart and head simultaneously, then ended on the other hand. Ingenious.
How do I create it and post it? I encourage you to use paper and pencil, and then scan it and upload it to your blog. It does not need to be pretty- feel free to jot and scribble things. It just needs to be legible enough for me to read it. Alternatively you can create a story map with any number of software programs. To post it you will simply need to save it as a jpg file. If you have problems doing this, let me know.
Scripting
There are many approaches to scripting, depending on whether you are creating a movie with actors, a digital story using voice-over narration and still pics, and so on.
I am going to assume that most students are going to create some form of the new media narrative that I showed at Winter Session, most of which consisted of a combination of still pics, short video clips, voice over narration, as well as music and titling. For this, all I need is a script in simple Word document using standard paragraph format. Here are some pointers to consider:
- Suggestions on length. One page of 16 font, single-spaced text that is read at story pace (not hurried, allowing for pauses, etc.) takes about 2 minutes.
- Suggestions on formatting. Leave wide margins, and/or double space your script, so you can jot down notes later about the media you want to use.
- Recording your voice. When recording your voice, don't try to read your piece all at once. I recommend you read a paragraph aloud so you can hear what it sounds and get used to how it flows without recording it. Then, when you are comfortable with it, record it. Always check your levels to make sure your voice is "present," that is, not to weak and not too strong.
- Slow down. I haven't heard you yet, but know you are reading as you would read a book in your head - way too fast. Slow down. Think storytelling. Think performance. Think books on tape. Take your dramatic pauses. Use inflection. Change voices it your script calls for it.
- Create a media list. Once your script is done, use the margin to jot down the media you will want to show while your audience is listening to your voice narration. Assemble your media ideas into a media list (a simple list of the media you need) and go get your media BEFORE you start production. Doing so will allow you to truly enjoy the experience of creating media without having to hunt for stuff as do so.
Interview Reflection
Length: 3-4 pages is ideal
For each media piece you will create an "interview reflection" as part of the media planning process. Because story mapping is common to both media projects you do for this course, I opted to describe it once in the appendix rather than twice for each project description above.
You can’t really derive the maximum benefit from your media work unless you reflect on it after it is all over. This exercise is intended to help you with that.
Once you have finished a media piece, imagine you are being interviewed about how and why you created it. Address each of the questions below. Feel free to combine questions where it makes sense to do so.
Where do I post the interview reflection? Post your finished reflection either a) on your blog, or b) as a document that you park elsewhere (like Google Docs) and link to from your blog.
Reflection questions:
- What is the essential story behind the piece you created?
- What was your purpose in creating this piece of new media narrative? Do you feel you were successful in communicating your purpose?
- Who was your audience? Do you feel you were successful in reaching your audience?
- Why did you use your particular approach to media production and media selection? Were you successful?
- What did you learn during the process of crafting your media piece that you can use in creating future new media narrative?
Readings list for this course
The reading list for this course appear below. Feel free to add to it at the end.
Mandatory reading for this course
Ohler, J. (2007). Digital Storytelling in the Classroom: New Media Pathways to Literacy, Learning and Creativity. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.
Haven, K. (2007). Story Proof: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story. Westport: Libraries Unlimited.
Highly recommended reading for this course
McKee, R. (1997). Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting. New York: Reagan.
Recommended for this course
Brown, J., Denning, S. (2005). Storytelling in Organizations: Why Storytelling is Transforming 21st Century Organizations and Management. Burlington: Elsevier.
Denning, S. (2001). The Springboard: How Storytelling Ignites Action in Knowledge-Era Organizations. Burlington, MA: Butterworth Heinemann.
Egan, K. (1986). Teaching as Storytelling. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Simmons, A. (2001). The Story Factor: Inspiration, Influence, and Persuasion through the Art of Storytelling. Cambridge, MA: Basic Books.
Parts of books recommended (i.e., includes specific sections about story)
Atkinson, C. (2007). Beyond Bullet Points: Using Microsoft PowerPoint to Create Presentations That Inform, Motivate, and Inspire. Bellingham: Microsoft Press. [My note: this book approaches creating PowerPoint presentations from a storytelling perspectivv.]
Heath, D., Heath, C. (2008). Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die. New York: Random House: Atkinson, C. (2008).
Pink, D. (2005). A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age. New York: Riverhead.
Related and recommended
McCloud, S. (2000). Reinventing Comic Books: How Imagination and Technology Are Revolutionizing an Art Form. New York: Perennial.
Eisner, W. (2001). Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative. Tamarac, Florida: Poorhouse Publications.
Eisner, W. (2001). Comics and Sequential Art. Tamarac, Florida: Poorhouse Publications.
