Creating a digital story rewards creativity and preparation. Here are the recommended steps for properly planning your digital story.
Keep all your planning documents as proof of your planning. Many teachers include planning in the DST scoring.
- Complete the story ideas graphic organizer. Consult the DST page for information about the four parts of the story.
- Check your ideas with your teacher. He or she is looking to see that you understand the basic story organization, and that you have completed the organizer with enough detail to proceed.
- Complete the storyboard graphic organizer for your project.
- Base your storyboard on your (teacher approved) completed story ideas graphic organizer.
- For each horizontal storyboard part, check a box of the appropriate plot section (problem, process, solution, change).
- Draw a picture in the box that represents the “cue” that will signal the beginning of the narration you will provide in that story section. You do not need to draw every image that you hope to use in your digital story.
- Next to each drawing, check either the “have” or “need” box showing whether or not you already have a digital copy of the image you are drawing.
- Write in detail, considering the assigned length of your digital story.
- Again, check this graphic organizer with your teacher. He or she will want to see that you have planned properly before beginning your DST creation.
Once your teacher approves your storyboard, move on to gathering images.