Bradley Irwin

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Sessions

06-04
10:40
30min
Digital storytelling in analog classrooms: utilizing smartphones to create informative and engaging digital stories
Bradley Irwin

Although digital storytelling is not a new pedagogic approach to language teaching and learning, recent advances in mobile device technology have made it much more accessible to educators and learners alike. This presentation will detail a case study conducted to explore the feasibility of creating digital stories in analog classrooms. Students who participated in this study worked in small groups to film, edit, and share high quality digital stories about the cultural assets and areas of interest in their hometowns using their personal smartphones. The case study described in this presentation took a mixed methods approach combining classroom and fieldwork observations, survey data, and in-depth interviews to analyze students’ opinions and perceptions of using their mobile devices to create digital stories. The data from this approach was also used to assess the extent to which the project contributed to language learning, collaborative practices, and the enhancement of participants' community awareness. The results showed that students created informative and engaging digital stories that met or exceeded language learning goals, and that community awareness increased significantly. This presentation will serve as a guide for educators who are interested in incorporating elements of digital storytelling into their teaching practice.

G1-2