Enhancing Writing through Digital Storytelling: Storybird

  • Authors

    • Melor Md Yunus
    • Wan Illina Wan Ishak
    2018-11-26
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.21.21614
  • Digital Storytelling, Education, ESL Writing, Language Learning, Storybird

  • Abstract

    English in the 21st century can be uniquely challenging especially to students due to the fact it is a difficult language to master. One major problem which most students are likely to encounter is ‘writing blocks’ which hinders them from producing good ideas which may lead to their poor writing skills. As a result, students think that writing is a boring activity to do thus feel less motivated to write. However, the wave of 4th industrial revolution has given insight to language teachers to cope with the problem by bringing technology into the classroom in tackling this educational issue. The idea of assimilating digital storytelling inside the classroom is seen as an excellent move in coping with poor writing skills among students. Therefore, this research deals with the use of ‘Storybird’, an artful storytelling platform in enhancing students’ writing skills which was conducted among 40 participants from a semi-rural primary school in Kedah. Classroom observation and task-based learning have been administered in order to collect the data. This research approach also designed to develop and improve teaching and learning in class.  The analysis of the data reveals that most pupils find interactive online writing as stimulating activities in enhancing their writing skills. The findings of the study are hoped to provide teachers and policymakers suggestions in designing interactive lessons which will improve students’ writing skills in a digitally creative manner.

     

  • References

    1. [1] Nunan, D. (1999). Second Language Teaching and Learning Boston: Heinle & Heinle Publishers.

      [2] Harmer, J. (2004). How to teach writing. Harlow: Longman.

      [3] Farooq, M.S., Hassan, M.U. & Wahid, S. (2012). Opinion of Second Language Learners about writing difficulties in English language. A Research Journal of South Asian Studies. 27(1): 183-19

      [4] Kirszner, L.G. and Mandell S. R. (2011). Focus on Writing. Paragraph and Essays. Second Edition. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s

      [5] Brown, H. D. (1994). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice Hall Regents.

      [6] Christianti, T.H., Seniwegiasari, F. & Nur Alviyanti Fauzi. (2016). The Effectiveness of Storybird Platform for Improving Students’ Writing Skill in Recount. In Proceeding of the International Conference on Teacher Training and Education. Vol. 2 (1):414-422.

      [7] Guoyan, H. (2007). A Process Genre Model for Teaching Writing. English Teaching Forum. 43(3).

      [8] Anita, R. (2016). Using Storybird for teaching narrative writing. Proceedings of ISELT, 4(2016). 4th International Seminar on English language and Teaching.

      [9] Briggs, S. (2014). Overcoming the fear of being wrong: 20 ways to help your students. Retrieved 10th June, 2018 from https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/overcoming-the-fear-of-being-wrong/ (17th March, 2014)

      [10] Hashim, H., Yunus, M. M., & Embi, M. A. (2016). Pre-University English as Second Language (ESL) Learners’ Attitude towards Mobile Learning. Creative Education, 7. 1147-1153.

      [11] Siti Mariam Zakaria, Melor Md Yunus, Nurhuda Mohamad Nazri & Parilah M. Shah. (2016). Students’ Experience of Using Storybird in Writing ESL Narrative Text. Creative Education, 7(15).

      [12] Yancey, K.B. (2009). Writing in the 21st century. A report from the National Council of Teachers of English. Tallahassee: Florida state university

      [13] Yunus, M. M., Nordin, N., Salehi, H., Embi, M. A., & Salehi, Z. (2013). The Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Teaching ESL Writing Skills. English Language Teaching. (6). 1-8.

      [14] Yunus, M. M., & Salehi, H. (2012). The Effectiveness of Facebook Groups on Teaching and Improving Writing: Students’ Perceptions. Journal of Education and Information Technologies, 1, 87-96.

      [15] Garrard, D. (2011). A Case Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Digital Storytelling as a Narrative Writing Tool.

      [16] Robin, B. R. (2008). Digital Storytelling: A Powerful Technology Tool for the 21st Century Classroom. Theory into Practice (47).220-228.

      [17] Conrad, S. K. (2013). Documenting Local History: A Case Study in Digital Storytelling. Library Review. 62. 459-471.

      [18] Sadik, A. (2008). Digital Storytelling: A Meaningful Technology-Integrated Approach for Engaged Student Learning. Educational Technology Research and Development (56)487-506.

      [19] Ramirez, Y. E. H. (2013). Writing Skill Enhancement when Creating Narrative Texts through the Use of Collaborative Writing and the Storybird Web 2.0 Tool. Colombian Applied Linguistics Journal, 15, 166-183.

      [20] Giacomini, L. (2015). Using Storybird in young Learners’ Creative Writing Class. English Teaching Forum. 53(4).

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Md Yunus, M., & Illina Wan Ishak, W. (2018). Enhancing Writing through Digital Storytelling: Storybird. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(4.21), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.21.21614

    Received date: 2018-11-26

    Accepted date: 2018-11-26

    Published date: 2018-11-26