Digital storytelling is an engaging way to tell a story or present information by mixing computer-based images, text, recorded audio narration, video clips, and/or music. For struggling students, learning, comes alive as they:

• Use their creativity, tapping into their imaginations
• Express themselves through multiple means, translating UDL principles into practice
• Expand skills in narrative and informational writing
• Dig into content to include in their stories
• Sustain the motivation needed to foster learning and meet standards

Many options are available for finding free digital storytelling tools:

1. List of the Best Free Digital Storytelling Tools for Teachers   
2. Free Digital Storytelling Tools for Teachers and Students 
3. 11 Good Digital Storytelling Resources 

To select the most relevant tool to meet a student’s abilities and needs, teachers can guide students to ask themselves questions such as:

• What form does your content take? What is your point of view?
• What do you want your audience to know?
• What will engage your audience?
• What are the multimedia features do you want to include?
• What do you want your audience to be able to do? (e.g., game? make choices?)
• What type of help will you need?

Beyond selecting the tool, it’s important to make the best use of the tool's features.The video, 'Seven Elements of Digital Storytelling,'  provides guidance to teachers and students.

Digital storytelling can be an effective way for students to share what they have learned by conducting a research project. Check out two Teaching Strategy Guides in PowerUp What Works: Conducting Research and Presenting. Each provides a list of relevant Common Core State Standards, evidence-based practices, case studies, and videos.