Digital Storytelling 

Hello everybody, I'm Nicola Azzano and this is H-Times, more specifically the section about + subject. Today I'm going to talk about Digital Storytelling. I'm pleased to write about this subject because it is one of the classes I'm participating in, and also because the teacher is Francesco Ramagli. The digital storytelling class is focused on writing, writing for blogs, podcasts and also for movies. As I mentioned before Mr Ramagli is the teacher for this class, he was so kind to answer my questions related to this + subject. Even if the interview seems very long, I personally advise you to read it, because it explains in deep detail this + subject. 

Teacher - Francesco Ramagli

Why did you decide to become a digital storytelling teacher?

So actually this is the first year that I teach digital storytelling, until last year it was a class in the hands of Miss Pinnen who changed schools in January. Gathering a little bit of feedback, I had noticed from students that there wasn't much writing practice and since I've always been fascinated by the idea of making the things that I normally teach more practical (i.e. literature narrative techniques and so on), I thought it was an opportunity to actually make the subject of digital storytelling a little bit more pragmatic and therefore try to bring more ideas than the ones that have been brought so far.

Can you explain the main units of this subject?

The first two units of this first year of digital storytelling will be dedicated to writing articles, the first unit is specifically for blogs and the second one for articles with a more journalistic tone. In this first phase of the year we had the whole first part dedicated to the conception and development of a blog. It was completely based on our imagination and then it gradually became dedicated to writing informative articles that were more similar to the newspaper kind. During this unit you are actually producing a school blog and you need these informative articles as support for the plus subjects for next year's students coming to M4. The other two units, on the other hand, will be dedicated to podcasting and then to the development of the idea of a podcast, which as you know is currently the most widely used format for the enjoyment of genres of content, along with videos on tiktok and instagram. The fourth unit will be devoted to the development of film products and therefore we will work on videos with complex plots so the focus will be on writing and screenplay, all of which lead us to use writing with an extremely practical goal and not just a creative one in terms of text production.

What are the two features you like most about this subject?

Definitely the chance to make you realise, now that you are in another phase of your academic growth, that writing is not just reading books or having biographical information that you may find boring about authors.It is also something that can be very useful to you in your daily life as you are now learning not only how to write about certain topics in a more structured way, but also how to understand how you are being introduced to this information by others who are already professionals. In short, I like to apply writing skills to everyday life, especially the opportunity to get you to try your hand at things that you otherwise wouldn't have much opportunity to develop.

Last question, why do you think students should choose this + course?

I think students should choose this course because of the usefulness of the fundamental aspect of storytelling in everyday life. I also think students should join because of the questions I often get like, "What's the point of studying literature?" and "What's the point of studying the topics that maybe we're going to go into with literature studies like the ones we take with you?" This is the answer: because those things give you the basic tools to be able to start conveying things more convincingly.

Student - Leone Mietto

Why did you decide to join this class?

-I decided to join this class because it could improve my English writing skills but in reality, it's way more than this. It is a class that covers a lot of aspects and it is also much fun.

Can you explain the main things you learn in this subject?

-The main things that we learn in this class include: writing articles, writing stories and producing podcasts. This class is also a great way to become a good writer, and our teacher is very funny ; )

What are the features you like most about this subject?

-the flexibility and the "freedom" that we have during the lessons, we can chat about things that we like with our teacher in order to apply them in our writing, and throughout the lesson, we can also adjust our schedule in order not to miss a deadline!

Do you think that digital storytelling can be a helpful thing or skill that can be useful in the future? If yes, why do you think it is important?

-I think that being able to write a convincing speech can always be helpful, like in business or in politics.

Why do you think other students, other than you, should choose this course?

-All students are different and I know that choosing electives is a really tough choice but I think that not choosing digital storytelling is a huge mistake and it is something that you may end up regretting for the rest of your life.

Student - Isabella Card

Why did you decide to join this class?

I made the decision to enroll in this class driven by my deep passion for journalism. I believe that the experience will not only be educational but also enjoyable, as I am genuinely enthusiastic about exploring the intricacies of this field.

Can you explain the main things you learn in this subject?

Currently, we are in the process of crafting blogs specifically tailored for our school.

What are the features you like most about this subject?

My favourite aspect of this experience is delving into the realms of writing and blogging. Creating a blog for our school has proven to be incredibly enjoyable for me.

What is the biggest project you are developing at this moment?

Engaging in this class can be highly beneficial, especially for those with an interest in journalism, as it also contributes to improving English grammar skills. I believe other students might be drawn to it due to its enjoyable and straightforward nature.

In the end, the Digital Storytelling course is a class where you can develop your writing ideas and devote yourself to using writing in a practical and useful way. The Digital Storytelling class helps you develop your way of speaking and writing. If you're planning to work in a job related to journalism, politics or related to "selling" the Digital StoryTelling class is the right class for you.

Azzano Nicola