[Term Project] Digital Storytelling

Introduction

Digital storytelling refers to the use of digital media including still images, video clips, etc. to share an experience on or interest in a topic, more effectively than verbal or textual storytelling from the perspective of both storytellers and audiences who are increasingly proficient with user-generated content. Digital storytelling is especially appealing to the millennial learners who are more familiar with creating and consuming social media content.

Big data is data whose volume, velocity, and variety defies the conventional ways of processing them. We have seen rapid development in technologies to support big data sets especially in terms of analyzing them and applying the newly found insights.

Tasks

Throughout this semester, you will be developing a digital story in a video format, which demonstrates your understanding of big data (analytics) and their applications. You are required to finish your story that describes a big data career you may be pursuing. Such careers may include jobs that directly require big data skills such as data scientists, quantitative analysts, DataBase Analysts (DBAs), database engineers, or other jobs that may use big data skills indirectly. Use your own imagination!

The term project consists of the three phases which require respective deliverables further specified below.

 

Phase 1: Develop your storyline

During this phase, you are expected to produce a rough abstract of your storyline. Please keep the following in mind when you develop your storyline:

  • What is your definition of big data?
  • What does big data mean to you?
  • Where do you see big data used on a daily basis?
  • What is big data intriguing to you?
  • What big data careers are you interested in?
  • What are the concrete steps you may take to obtain your dream job in the field of big data?

A digital story “allows everyday people to share aspects of their life story,” so make sure that you share your own personal story!

Deliverables
  1. A (minimum) 200 word summary of your storyline

Check out a sample summary here: https://goo.gl/pgTvWz

 

Phase 2: Develop your storyboard

A storyboard in this context is a visual representation of how your digital story will be told. Identify each scene of your story and document what needs to be discussed in terms of your narration.

Deliverable
  1. Your storyboard
    1. This could be an outline of your storyline in the form of a PowerPoint presentation or
    2. Visual illustrations

Check out a sample storyboard here: https://goo.gl/8hsYGf

 

Phase 3: Produce your video

The video needs to be succinct. Your video should not be more than 10 minutes but at least 7 minutes. You can use any editing tool of your choice (e.g., Camtasia, Windows Movie Maker, or iMovie) to produce your video.

Deliverable
  1. Your video

Check out sample videos here: https://sites.psu.edu/bigdataebook/term-project-01/examples/

 

Grading Rubric

  1. Phase 1: 25%
  2. Phase 2: 25%
  3. Phase 3: 50%

Plagiarism

There may be ethical issues or legal consequences when you use borrowed materials from the Internet. Please ensure that you avoid copyright infringement problems by using Creative Commons materials as specified at: http://copyright.psu.edu/creative-commons/   

Resources

You are encouraged to take advantage of the following online resources to first develop your understanding of how to conduct digital storytelling and then develop your own digital story.

  1. Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling
  2. URL: https://class.coursera.org/digitalstorytelling-002

Penn State also has multiple resources you can use to produce your video. Check out:

  1. One Button Studio at http://onebutton.psu.edu/
  2. Media Commons at http://mediacommons.psu.edu/

Creative Commons at http://copyright.psu.edu/creative-commons/