Entry 1:
Right off the bat, one big thing jumped out at me from the Digital Storytelling chapter was what a great asset it will be in my current position. I work in the library’s marketing/outreach and put together displays, exhibits, and events. Digital storytelling will be a great way to add another layer to that. In the academic library I work in, we serve college undergrads and graduate students, faculty/staff, community patrons, and area middle and high school students. Since such a large portion of the world’s population is visual learners, digital storytelling is a great way to introduce new ideas and cultures.
I’ve spent the last six months studying/researching how libraries are a place for enhancing cultural literacy of their communities. In particular, because of my own job, how exhibits and displays can influence patrons cultural literacy. When I read, “Teens’ affinity for digital spaces, devices, and communications makes digital platforms for stories a logical cultural fit” (pg. 44), I realized how perfectly it fit in with this topic.
Younger generations are more apt to lean toward ephemeral, digital, and visual information. Digital Storytelling is a perfect tool to reach them. While patrons may never seek books or information on cultures or interests other than their own, when this information is presented in a way that is brief and visible, they tend to take notice. Utilizing digital storytelling with cultural education and community awareness in mind can expand the community’s understanding.
However, since the audience’s experience will vary due to their own background/personal experiences, each story will have a different effect on each person. I had never quite thought about that aspect until I read “the completed story happens in the mind of the listener; a unique and personalized individual” (pg. 47). I suppose you really have to know your audience for your story to have the desired effect.
Libraries are great digital storytelling venue because they offer the opportunity to follow-up stories with informational resources for continued learning. This pairing could encourage open dialogue and increase cultural knowledge.
Technology plays such a large role in modern librarianship that it just makes sense. It is a natural extension. The digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu website points out the 21st Century Skills used by teachers in this information age. Librarians have been implementing these skills and more. E-books, e-mails, digital commons, evaluating online information, etc., these are all tools of librarianship.
I am very excited to learn how to make this an extension of what I am already doing at work. I believe this can have a huge impact and reach a lot more of our specific audience (college students) in a form that means more to them, especially if it features students themselves. That is a huge engagement boost with our students.
Reference:
Morris, Rebecca J. “Digital Storytelling.” In, Engaging Teens with Story: How to Inspire and Educate Youth with Storytelling. Janice M. DelNegro and Melanie A. Kimball, Eds. Santa Barbara: Libraries Unlimited, 2017.
About Digital Storytelling: http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/page.cfm?id=27&cid=27
Comentarios