Telling Lives - digistories

I am in Aberystwyth after a train journey that was late and then became a coach tour. Regulars on the line from Shrewsbury to the coast didn’t seem to be suprised when the train terminated several stations before the destination.
The coach journey was ultimately more enjoyable. We were closer to the villages and each other too. I had met up with my friend Diane from Arizona on the way and then we met some others on their way to DS3.
By the time we reached Aberystwyth it was so late we stopped in town to eat before going up the hill to the campus. I had a call from Mary Ann who had arranged to meet me over a coffee for chat. After checking in to our rooms I met Mark, a performance poet from Belfast. He is helping 12 year olds with digital storytelling using Movie Maker “because they all have it at home”.
So the community is here and I suppose I’ll make some new friends tomorrow.
I’m writing this on my iPhone because there’s no t-mobile signal up here for my broadband dongle. I hope to find some wireless access tomorrow. Time to sleep.

Carers stories in Huddersfield, memories of The Sixties in York. Just two of the workshops that have kept me busy in the past month. I’ve also written an article about digital storytelling for a writers magazine called Lapidus and now I’m on my way to Aberystwyth for DS3.

I will be blogging from the festival so expect a some new entries here over the next few days. It’s good to get away to listen to what other storytelling practitioners are developing in the digital world and to reflect on my own business. I’ll also be meeting friends and colleagues from previous events and the BBC.

From York it’s a long train journey to West Wales, via Manchester and Shrewsbury. I arrive in Aberystwyth at about 7.30 this evening if all the trains make their connections. So don’t expect too much until tomorrow when the event gets going.

Details have just been posted for the third Digital Storytelling Festival - DS3 - at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre in West Wales. 5/6th June 2008

This is the main festival in the UK and it’s well worth booking. It’s cheap too. I’ll be there along with many of my former BBC colleagues from Capture Wales. If you have any interest in Digital Storytelling you’ll  find lots of inspiration, resources and advice. I understand that Thursday focuses on the academic work going on around digital storytelling whilst Friday is more about the practical work and the projects that are running in Wales.

The Arts Centre is on the campus of Aberystwyth University. If you’re going the cheapest and nearest place to stay is on campus. Book through the Conference Office.

Jason Ohler : Education and Technology :: Art, Storytelling, Education and Technology
Art, Storytelling, Technology and Education

Resources for educators, parents, innovators

Announcement: Jasons new book about digital storytelling and new media narrative in education - Digital Storytelling in the Classroom: New Media Pathways to Literacy, Learning and Creativity, is now available for advance purchase:

I have a lot of time for Jason Ohler. I heard him speak at the Digital Storytelling Festival in Sedona and he is the keynote speaker at DS3 in Aberystwyth in June.

Jason is the guy who says “If your kid is a bad guitar player don’t buy him a bigger amplifier. It won’t make his playing any better; his mistakes will just get louder!” The application here is - if you don’t have a story to tell buying a better computer or more powerful software won’t make your digital storytelling any better.