Storytelling...what's the so what?

I'm often caught in the awe of technology, and the options presented. I can frequently get lost in the shuffle of opportunity as compared to the basics, and answering the fundamental question, purpose or the question. . . "So what?"

In Digital Storytelling, Ohler refers to this as the 80/20 rule, or hitting the wall. The production values, the glitz, "pop and sizzle" and yet I like the response that Ohler gives, asking the following question?

Is it worth spending 80% of the time and energy to produce the last 20% of a finished piece? Typically I say no, that is, when the production wall looms, say "good enough." (Ohler, 2008, p. 34). 

The details of spending time on the script, transitioning from the story map to the script and looking at the story from the audience's perspective is worth the time so that the audience is engaged, has context, and clearly understands what is being communicated. Ohler shares, "Simply put, a story resonates when others can relate to it. While it may involve experiences that are completely foreign to listeners, it can still act as a lens that helps listeners see themselves more clearly (Ohler, 2008, p. 23)."

A Story map. . . a script. . . and books to read. . .

Over the past several days I've been reading, mapping, scripting, re-reading, scripting, searching, watching, and then reading again. I guess I enjoy the process of reading and engagement, but then like the clarity of knowing what I am doing and how I am going to get something done. 

First blush, I've enjoyed the Digital Storytelling book by Ohler. It does a good job of breaking things down into small bites of information that are digestible and palatable. I also really enjoyed reading through the blog of the previous class, and reading through a few of the blogs posted by the class from 2008.

It's also been a good challenge as I sometimes have the perception that perfection is required out of the gate. I'm not sure who penned the thought, but I like the one word challege that is often cited and provided. "Begin." It says so much, in such a short period of time. It's actually refreshing. And so, today... I begin.

 

The beginning. . . . .

January 23, 2009: The Journey begins: 

Sitting in my favorite coffee shop on a rainy Saturday morning -- looking at a stack of great books and wondering -- where do I begin?  I am quickly reminded of the an underlying thought that Ohler shared with us and that is that it doesn't matter, just that we begin.  

I am excited to embark upon this journey, reading texts like Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath, as well as Story by Robert McKee, Story Proof by Kendall Haven, and last but not least, Digital Storytelling for Classrooms by Jason Ohler. 

I guess part of the journey is becoming comfortable with the medium, and learning to play in the medium without the fear of getting stuck, breaking it, or doing something that I don't know how to "undo." It is a Franklin Delanor Roosevelt quote from his first Inagural address where he said, "There's nothing to fear, but fear itself." 

Of course, in no way would I want to compare my being "digitally naive," coined by Marc Prensky to the significant issues that Roosevelt and the country dealt with during the Great Depression and the pending issues of Germany as our country approached the unrest brought upon us during the end of the 1930's. 

And so, back to the blog. Today the Journey begins. My hope is that I can create, learn, share, and then involve my family over the next few months with the goal of incorporating some new learning for them as well (of course for them, it will be teaching their parents about all this great stuff that they stumble upon, and have no problem negotiating with."