Chapter 8 Digital Storytelling: Possible Applications in an Open Distance E-learning Environment
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Abstract
In digital storytelling, digital tools and methods such as video, audio and social media are used to share and communicate ideas and information. Digital storytelling can be integrated in curricula across many subjects and offers students an opportunity to be actively engaged as creators instead of mere consumers of digital media. Most studies on digital storytelling reflect conditions in digitally-rich contexts that incorporate software programmes and technologies not accessible to students in resource-poor environments. Investigating how digital storytelling can contribute to innovative teaching and learning practices in developing countries, may offer innovative opportunities for enhancing digital literacies in an open distance e-learning (ODeL) context. The University of South Africa (Unisa) follows an ODeL approach. Its students have to reflect certain graduate attributes on completing their studies in an ODeL environment, which digital storytelling may assist in developing. The complexities involved in introducing digital storytelling in higher education; the effort in supporting students with diverse levels of digital literacy; and their varied access to technologies, may prohibit its introduction in resource-poor environments. Research on the use of digital storytelling in such environments may guide efforts in this field, for instance, investigating the opportunities that mobile digital storytelling offers.