Celebrating our unique stories through digital storytelling Meet Digital Story Telling Aotearoa (DSTA), a new initiative that’s working to help kaiako and a-konga build confidence in using digital technologies to tell meaningful stories. Here INTERFACE finds out more from co-founder Arnika Macphail. DTSA is an association set up to support kaiako and a-konga with resources around digital storytelling from an Aotearoa perspective.
Why have you set it up?
We have found that a lot of teachers are still looking for authentic ways to bring the Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko curriculum content into the teaching and learning. We wanted to have a place where people could connect to look at how we can use storytelling as an authentic context for this.
How does it all operate?
We are lucky that we have a lot of flexibility around how we can work and operate. The funding can cover project development, experts to work with kaiako, kaiako release, hui, resource development and anything in between. We have set projects that we develop with the committee, we also work with any teachers who want support for a storytelling project.
What will DSTA bring to schools?
The flexibility to have tailored professional development around how to use authentic contexts to engage in Digital Technologies. Release time to work on projects. Access to storytellers (of their choice) to support the storytelling element. Resources online which will have a variety of Ma-ori Medium, English Medium and also opportunities for deaf education support.
Who can participate?
The funding is nationwide, which allows us to support people around the country. We currently have a committee member in Taupo, and the rest of the team are in Canterbury. We would love for educators to reach out from all over the place.
How can schools access funding and support?
They can either use our Facebook group page (bit.ly/facebookdsta), or email me at arnika@impacted.co.nz
How long is the funding for?
Having applied for funding through an RFP process, we are fortunate that we have secured three years of funding, so, we have about two and a half years left!
DIGITAL STORYTELLERS AT TE WAKA UNUA SCHOOL
What projects have you done so far?
We have been doing a lot with Sir Ian Taylor and his TaylorMade team, using their Ma-tauranga resource (maatauranga. co.nz) as a context for storytelling. This includes working with a group of students from Te Waka Unua School in Christchurch to develop Minecraft Education Edition lessons, as well as supporting kaiako in Dunedin with release time to continue to build educational resources, both of which were linked to Ma-tauranga.
What have been the challenges?
The challenge at the moment is finding the time to quality assure resources to be able to get them online to share them. We also want to ensure that we do our mission justice, so we want to have a range of resources before we publish anything online.
What’s been the reaction from those participating?
Teachers are excited and engaged in the hui, and we have people coming to us with amazing projects we can support all the time. We have already been able to connect with amazing people from around the country. The main word that has been used in feedback has been ‘inspiring’, which is a massive compliment to the mahi.
What are your plans for the future? We want to be responsive to the mahi that is needed. We hope to support kaiako and a-konga by helping them to connect to resources that will support them in their digital journey. Our future really depends on the need, and how many awesome educators get in touch with projects they wish to fulfil.
Thank you.
INTERFACEONLINE.CO.NZ
What is DSTA?
Arnika Macphail is MD at impactED and was talking to INTERFACE Editor Greg Adams. Find out more about Digital Story Telling Aotearoa (DSTA) at dsta.co.nz
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