Share Paper: Digital Storytelling, Then and Now: From Academic Tool to Social Empowerment

1. Julie Springer, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DCEducation Division, United States

Abstract: This reflection on digital storytelling traces the variety of educational roles it has served over the last two decades, from its origins as an academic tool for technology literacy, to a powerful vehicle for personal growth and community building Digital storytelling has swept the globe impacting academics, corporate life, healthcare, and human rights advocacy It has documented countless histories of individuals and social groups Today it is used as an instrument for social justice, capitalizing on the power of story to connect lives, cultivate empathy, and inspire storytellers and listeners alike Digital storytelling allowed educators to teach much of the ...