Strategies for Digital Storytelling via Tabletop Video: Building Decision Making Skills in Middle School Students in Marginalized Communities

Abstract

Media education curricula has had to address significant changes in students experiences of media resulting in a void for disadvantaged youth in terms of exposure to arts and technology. In this study we give an overview of the development of media curricula from an international perspective as it pertains to the intersection of art, education, and technology through emerging video technologies. The digital storytelling strategy using table top video addresses the new developments and continuing dilemmas of media education in secondary education. This digital video offers unprecedented possibilities for student's creative production while addressing key issues in decision making skills. Students collaborated on the educational objectives through role-plays and real decision-making scenarios. The literacy barrier for disadvantaged youth was addressed in the digital story collaborations and our experience suggests this strategy is worthy of consideration by teachers. Finally, we provide a “how-to” guide for the digital storytelling with tabletop video, thus providing the capacity to make learning more personal, meaningful, and collaborative in secondary education.