| Are you already starting to think about what you are | | | | product is always unique. I get such a buzz out of |
| going to give this Christmas? Well here is a suggestion | | | | seeing people get over the surprise of hearing their |
| that might just help you out. Imagine this: You had a | | | | own voices and putting together their first story - just |
| few laughs with a friend earlier in the year and now | | | | to see their faces makes it so rewarding. And |
| you want to give him/her a Christmas gift that is not | | | | because I got so much out of it I just wanted to share |
| going to break the bank but that does say you care | | | | it with as many people as possible. |
| about them? So gather a few photos you have taken | | | | So I created a digital story about making a digital story! |
| of each other or of something you shared, add some | | | | I also created a printable version so that people can |
| motion and transition to them and then tell a story using | | | | follow it on paper as well and then I drew together all |
| your OWN VOICE! Fold it up into a movie and send it | | | | the software elements that you might need and |
| to your friend, how cool is that? | | | | created a single digital story telling starter kit. I am so |
| Too hard? not at all - after all, you are a scrapbooker - | | | | confident of what I have put together that I promise |
| you know how to gather a few apparently | | | | everyone they will have produced their first movie |
| meaningless scraps and make them into a story, so | | | | within an hour of getting themselves set up! Don't you |
| you are half way there. All you need now is to learn a | | | | be the first one to prove me wrong, please! |
| little more about digital story telling. I have checked out | | | | Once you get into digital story telling you will think of so |
| a lot of websites that offer to turn your photos into | | | | many ways in which you can use it - we made a |
| movies but I don't think paying many hundreds of | | | | talking leaving card for someone at work a few |
| dollars for someone to add a bit of music to a few | | | | weeks ago. We each spoke against our own photos |
| photos is very good value when I can tell a story | | | | with a comment about the person leaving and |
| myself and add my own music for a few cents! | | | | presented them with their movie on a disc - there was |
| Before I go much further let me tell you why I am | | | | not a dry eye in the room! |
| telling you about this. Over the last two or three years I | | | | It is hard to describe digital story telling until you have a |
| have worked with hundreds of teachers and their | | | | go and realize how easy and fun it can be. People will |
| students to help them find ways to express | | | | really appreciate the thoughtfulness and care you |
| themselves using new and emerging technology. The | | | | have taken in giving them such a personal gift - better |
| best tool we came to work with was digital story | | | | not tell them just how easy it was! |
| telling because it is easy to learn, fun to do and the end | | | | |