Global Stories Portfolio

Reflection #2

The readings so far have been fascinating. I have learned a lot about different digital storytelling projects, in particular how they fit into academic standards of knowledge. I have a better understanding of how the stories themselves are sources of knowledge from the articles that review or outline various digital storytelling projects. They are also helpful in teaching me how to better analyze the stories for their content. Often when I watch the stories, I get absorbed by what is being told without thinking about larger implications. I hope to continue to understand “the grand scheme” of the various projects and how the stories themselves contribute to knowledge. As I said in my first reflection, I am not confident in my ability to analyze digital media sources, but the readings and projects that we have looked at so far have taught me a lot about analysis. 

I feel that my digital literacy skills have grown, especially with the timeline project. (I think) I understand how to make things visually aesthetic in Scalar and the timeline project specifically helped me to think more visually about the written content. Additionally, using Hypothes.is and VoiceThread have allowed me to see my classmate’s point of view, which in turns has helped me to better understand the content. 



Again, I enjoyed the timeline project because I have never had to think so visually about my projects. Creating the timeline required me to do research in my own history as well as the larger cultural/structural factors that created the environment I grew up in. As I continue to think about my digital story and the future story mapping project, I strive to think about how to conceptualize the content in a new way. Specifically, the timeline project made me think about historical factors related to being mixed that are largely unrelated. The mapping project (I presume) will allow me to connect two places that are (quite literally) on opposite sides of the planet. I look forward to that project as well as the final digital story as projects that force me to rethink myself and the world around me (that created me). 



I’ve learned a lot about the basic tenets of storytelling. One that sticks with me the most is that the storyteller should be involved in deep personal reflection; I found that in my timeline project, I had to ask my parents questions I hadn’t thought about before, and that I am happy to now know about myself. As I learn more about digital stories and work to create one myself, I hope to continue to learn about how and why a digital story is made. 

So far, we have looked at traditional digital story projects such as short videos, as well as timelines, maps, and other multimedia formats that tell stories. While each of the forms are defined as a digital story as they tell a story about some person or group, there are major differences in the way that they are disseminated. Obviously the information is presented differently in a video versus a timeline, but there is also a difference in the accessibility of the various formats. The videos are not just meant to be seen, but also heard. Stories that are told in the form of timelines or maps are primarily viewed, and also include some interaction, as the viewer must click through the timeline, or explore the map themself. 

I hope to continue to dedicate as much time as possible to the readings and contributing to discussions both in class and asynchronously. I look forward to working on the future projects and am excited to see what my classmates produce! 

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