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The Center for Digital Storytelling
(CDS) in Berkeley, California is known for developing and disseminating the Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling, which are often cited as a useful starting point as you begin working with digital stories.
| CDS' Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling |
| 1. Point of View |
What is the main point of the story and what is the perspective of the author? |
| 2. A Dramatic Question |
A key question that keeps the viewer's attention and will be answered by the end of the story. |
| 3. Emotional Content |
Serious issues that come alive in a personal and powerful way and connects the story to the audience. |
| 4. The Gift of Your Voice |
A way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context. |
| 5. The Power of the Soundtrack |
Music or other sounds that support and embellish the storyline. |
| 6. Economy |
Using just enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer. |
| 7. Pacing |
The rhythm of the story and how slowly or quickly it progresses. |
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The specific requirements of an educational digital story vary a little
from the original Seven Elements for Digital Stories. Working with the
Seven Elements that CDS developed, we added a few new items to make them
more applicable to the types of digital storytelling our students create
at the University of Houston. The modified elements are shown below.
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1. The Overall Purpose of the Story |
6. Pacing of the Narrative |
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2.
The Narrator’s Point of View |
7. Use of a Meaningful Audio
Soundtrack |
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3. A Dramatic Question or Questions |
8. Quality of the Images, Video &
other Multimedia Elements |
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4. The Choice of Content |
9.
Economy of the Story Detail |
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5. Clarity of Voice |
10. Good Grammar and Language Usage |
For more information about how these elements are used in the
classroom, you may be interested in the following articles:
The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
A Multilevel Approach to Using Digital Storytelling in the Classroom
Additional information about the Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling may be found online at the following sites:
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