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**Talking Trails: An Educational Digital Storytelling Project ** Utilizing Digital Storytelling to Link Students with their National Parks and Region. We are beginning the first pilot program in February 2012, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region. Please check out the page links on the left for details and resources!

**Passing It On: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Digital Storymapping Project**


 * Mission: ** Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934, and during that time, there were thousands of individuals living and working within the parks’ borders. Right now, there are many individuals who have unique memories and recollections that help define our region's character. Stories collected immediately can be mapped and produced into Digital Stories. Utilizing area Middle and High School students would insure a first person link between generations, and carry on the oral traditions of the past in a manner that utilizes current technology. By developing interest in the stories, we hope students will also develop a deeper understanding of their area, and a sense of stewardship and place. (In this pilot round we are focusing on regional history and culture, but may include science and math in the future. )


 * Current Status: ** Currently the park archives house a vast collection of oral histories, photographs, historic maps and artifacts. There is a movement to not only make these resources available to the public via the internet, but to group the materials together for a complete “picture” of the cultural history and diversity of the area.


 * Educational Standards: ** Not only does this project benefit the National Park mission of preserving, protecting and creating future stewards, but it also meets many curriculum goals across grade levels. Digital Storytelling is an effective hands-on inquiry-based method of learning, and can be a cross-curriculum activity. Educational standards met from Grades 6-12 include:

Computer Technology: Literacy and Usage 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 & 6.0 English Language Arts: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 & 7.0 Visual Arts: 1.0, 4.0, 5.0 & 6.0 Social Studies: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 & 6.0 Science: Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Geology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Physical World Concepts, Physics, Research Methods

Many schools are using digital storytelling as a "team project". Students might have topics in History, Social Studies, Science or Math. English and language arts teachers assist in writing narratives & creating bibliographies, librarians assist in research skills, computer science teachers work on technology skills, art teachers assist in videography and graphics.

NEW! ** Great Smoky Mountains National Park Archive Photos ** ==== ** The Great Smoky Mountains Association has begun digitizing photos from the GRSM Archives, but they have not been stored online yet. These photos are categorized, but the titles are stored in another file. We'll get around to individually naming them, but here are the photos in advance. If you want to know individual photos, email me the photo ID#, and I will look it up in the file. Or, if you're looking for a certain photo, I can try to look it up as well. ** ====

** Here's the link to about 1,000 photos: ** []

**Digital Storytelling Methods:** There are countless methods to create digital stories in the classroom, and each teacher will develop his/her own methodology. Your project might include video or sound recordings of newly collected interviews, or might include historic stills from archives. We’ve included a list of great online resources to get you inspired and started on this course (check out the LINKS page). Great Smoky Mountains National Park is also providing assistance to get select digital storytelling efforts off the ground by providing resources and personnel to help organize a plan and assist in locating and interpreting these stories.



// Thanks! // // There are too many to thank, but we have a special thanks to the pilot program teachers and schools for going out on a limb: Brenda Williams, Annette Clapsaddle, Kathy Wiggins, April Daniels, Sheryl Sharp & Ms. Gumlick. Thanks too to all the technology teachers, GRSM, GSMA, Melissa Crisp and Karen Ballentine. The biggest thanks goes out to the students who are participating! - Beth Bramhall, Coordinator //