Q3 Craft Your Story: Storyboard It!

18. Digital Storytelling

THIS QUEST IS IN REVISION, to be completed by January 13, 2025. Thank you for your patience.

Introduction

Digital storytelling is a fun way to share your ideas and experiences using a combination of images, sounds, and text. The Plan you completed is the foundation for your digital story. 

A storyboard:

  • helps you visualize and organize your story to ensure that your message is clear. 
  • is a graphical representation of the different elements for your story, identifying images, text, narration, music, transitions, etc. 
  • is like a blueprint for your digital story that outlines what will be happen, what you will see, what is said and what media you will use. 
  • helps you split your story into separate and sequential frames or scenes like a comic strip.

Storyboards and Frames

There is no one best way to create a storyboard, but there are some basic elements that need to be described for each frame for a digital story, and there are a wide variety of applications that can be used.

A storyboard is like a comic strip where it breaks the story down into small sequential parts referred to as frames.

Comic strip image with three frames showing a two characters dressed up as cereal boxes trick and treating

1. Basic elements to be included in the frames of your digital storyboard:

  • Description of the scene: including characters or animals featured (eg. green grass background with a sidewalk and stairs)
  • Description of media: audio,sound effects. music, photo, image (e.g. no sound, frame 2 shows two characters holding trick or treat bags, one dressed up like a cereal box.... etc.) The costumes add interest to the story. 
  • Media list: What media is used, sometimes hyperlinked to (eg. digital image of a cartoon with three frames that provides a link to the image and copyright information)
  • Narration: Script for narration (e.g. No audio narration, Egg character speech bubble "You sure this is gonna work? etc.")

2. Examine how the elements for each frame in a story are described in the following examples, and the storyboard formats that were used to create these digital stories. Playing the digital story version is optional, check with your teacher.

Storyboard: The Birth of the Internet (PDF of slide deck) Digital story video (5:42)
Storyboard: How Pop-ups Got Their "Pop"   and the Digital story video (6:56)
Storyboard: Murrow and Television Responsibility  and the Digital story video (5:45)
Storyboard: Picture of a hand-drawn storyboard set of boxes on pages of a book.
Multi-media image of a hand-drawn storyboard from the University of Dayton Library.

Creating a digital story can be a fun and exciting project!  Follow these points to make your digital story engaging and clear.

1. Start with a Strong Idea (your brainstorm document)
Think about what message or theme you want to share. It could be a lesson learned, an adventure, or even a funny moment. For example, if your story is about friendship, consider how friends help each other in tough times.

2. Plan 
Refer to the Table completed in your Planning Document. 

3. Dialogue
If you are including conversations between characters in your story write the dialogue as if you're talking to a friend. For example: 

  • Character A: "Hey, do you want to help me with the project?" 
  • Character B: "Sure! I have some great ideas!"

4. Show, Don’t Just Tell
Instead of just telling the audience what happens, show it through actions and feelings. For example, instead of saying, "She was sad," you could write, "Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared at the empty playground."

5. Keep it Simple
Use clear and straightforward language. Avoid complex words and long sentences. Remember, your audience should easily understand your story!

6. Describe Media that will support your story
Think about how images or video clips can support your script. Describe what media will accompany each part of your story. For instance, if your character is exploring a forest, you might include pictures of trees and wildlife.

7. Revise Your Storyboard
After writing your first draft, read it out loud. This helps you hear how it sounds and catch any mistakes. Ask a friend or family member for feedback.

8. Practice Your Delivery
Once your storyboard is ready, practice reading it aloud. Pay attention to your tone and pacing. Make sure you express the emotions of the characters.

9. Time Your Story
Make sure your storyboard fits the time limit for your digital story. A good length for a middle school project is usually around 3-5 minutes.

10. Have Fun!
Remember, the most important part of creating a digital story is to have fun! Let your creativity shine through, and enjoy the storytelling process.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating an engaging and memorable digital story. Happy writing!

Some of these tips were generated with magicschoool ai.

STEPS Continued

3. Check with your teacher and select a digital storyboard application. You will not need to locate specific photos, images, or videos at this time, only to describe the content for each frame.

4. Use your storyboard as an outline and refer to your Planning Document to help identify:

  • beginning that introduces it, may ask a question, use a hook, state a thesis
  • middle that can provide details, action, or supporting evidence
  • end that provides the conclusion, call for action, or resolution

5. Add additional frames as needed, and describe the details for the different elements for each frame:

  • The scene and setting, characters, media, media list, script or narrative

In the next Quest you will search for and locate the specific media elements your will use for your story.

STORYBOARD Applications and Resources

The following are some of the most common applications used for creating storyboards in schools. Check with your teacher about the storyboard process you will be using.


An additional noteworthy application that has a free trial:

Book Creator

 18.Q3 PLANNING

18.Q3 COMPLETING 

18.Q3 Student Checklist
 

18.Q3 Teacher Guide 

MITECS   Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students, and

ISTE Standards for Students

2. Digital Citizen
c. Demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property

3. Knowledge Constructor
a. Plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits
c. Curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts or solving authentic problems

4. Innovative Designer
a. Know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems

6. Creative Communicator
a. Choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication
b. Create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations
d. Publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences

Websites

Videos from Outside Sources

21t4s Documents & Quizzes


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