Academic Librarians Supporting Digital Storytelling in the Sciences

Abstract

Science curricula in academic settings increasingly emphasize the importance of fostering students’ science communication skills through coursework and projects. One technique used to build students’ multimedia communication skills is digital storytelling. Digital storytelling allows students to tell a subjective story that engages audience’s interest and empathy using a mixture of visual and audio cues. In the process, students develop their own skills building an emotionally engaging narrative through the interaction of words and imagery, skills that are not usually exercised in a STEM curriculum. At some institutions, instructors of this technique have partnered with librarians, who can offer valuable assistance in the form of copyright support, resource guidance, and technical support. This paper will discuss how science librarians can provide support for digital storytelling in the curriculum.