PhotoStory3+for+Windows

As long as your computer is a PC and has a legal copy of Microsoft Office, this is a free program to download from Microsoft.

Photo Story 3 uses photos, titles and effects, motion and transitions, narration, and music to create an engaging digital story.

As teachers work to engage students in rigorous and relevant projects that cover multiple standards, the use of available digital movie-making and storytelling applications is a natural progression towards shifting our focus from teaching to learning. Bernajean Porter, author of //DigiTales: The Art of Telling Digital Stories// has a website www.digitales.us that provides a guide for educators on making use of digital storytelling within the classroom.

**1. Plan Your Digital Story.**
Consult curriculum guide and image sources. (Copyright and citation guidelines apply to images as well as information.)


 * **Select a topic** (or assign topics to students)
 * **Gather and organize information** (research and outlining)
 * **Write the dialogue/narration.**
 * **Gather images.**

**2. Storyboarding**
For some, storyboarding may seem like a hassle, or a tedious extra step in the process of digital storytelling. This is not true. Storyboarding is a valuable step in digital storytelling. It allows the user to organize images, text, motion, interviews, and music before they begin making their digital story. It allows the user to visualize how the story will be put together and what holes exist so that they can be filled. Storyboarding also inspires new ideas for the user’s digital story because the user sees all of the pieces of the story laid out in front of them. The following storyboarding tutorial shows users how to create a storyboard in Microsoft Word because many people have access to Word. There is a plethora of storyboarding software out there, but they tend to be more complex and involved. As users become more advanced, they may want to consider acquiring more complex software for storyboarding.

Storyboarding Example:

PhotoStory Planning Guide

3. Create Your PhotoStory!
Step by Step Instructions, customized for CMCSS student computers

Beginner's guide to Photo Story
 * step by step guide to using PhotoStory3 including easy to navigate table of contents


 * Lessons Learned Through Experience**
 * Spend one class period modeling use of PhotoStory3 with students. Allow them to "play." Make homework for the evening gathering information and/or pictures.
 * When microphone settings have to be fixed, teach the student to do it, too. (Sound Wizard icon on record screen....Internal Mic for all student computers)
 * Remind your students to unmute computer and turn the sound all the way up! They love hearing that from a teacher!
 * Allow students to bring headphones if they have them so that they can preview a movie in progress without creating unnecessary background noise for those who are recording.
 * Try to provide some space so that groups can spread out when recording. (Hallways or libraries work well.)
 * Have students move any media (images, music files) from jump drives, server, or email to the computer before adding them to PhotoStory3 or they will not work correctly when the file location is no longer available.
 * Have students save the finished project file as well as the wmv file just in case they need to edit after they are finished.
 * Have students save for playback on computer to create a wmv file and turn the wmv file in to your drop box. Your drop box will fill up way too quickly if they drop project files to you.
 * If students are working with partners or in groups, remind them to save the file in progress to the server where all group members can access it. What if the only one with access is absent?
 * Two (or more) PhotoStory project files cannot be combined.
 * Provide clear expectations before the students begin the work. Know what you want to have turned in, because it may be more than the finished movie!
 * Try to provide some last minute extra time for students to finish. Some are perfectionists and some just work more slowly. One hour in the afternoon or one planning period for those who can come in to work is hard on you, but they appreciate it greatly.
 * Be clear from the beginning about the absolute deadline for completion.

4. Evaluating and Publishing Student Digital Stories
Scoring Guides (customizable) from Digitales


 * Considerations before publishing.**
 * inadvertent identification of students or too much information shared
 * quality and length
 * adherence to copyright laws and citations
 * effect of publication on student motivation and engagement


 * Conversion Software** (needed only if the unpublished movie needs to be played on teacher Mac)
 * Handbrake

Add movies to classroom webpages (some may only allow links, so consider the look and functionality of your website) or Wikis. Wikis allow for easy embedding and movie players on the page.