Using Storyboards in the Classroom
Writing Tool for Visual Learners and Classroom Collaboration
Jul 3, 2009
Preparing to write a story or create a presentation can be challenging for some students. Visual learners especially learn well when able to see the images or pictures that will become words. Graphic organizers provide a visual way to work with ideas, but are limited to words or short thoughts. Storyboards provide a more complex way for students to see a story or presentation develop through images as well as descriptive sentences.
What is a Storyboard?
A storyboard is a visual planning tool frequently used by visual designers or creators. These include professionals who work in animation studios, on multimedia productions and in web development. Unlike graphic organizers, storyboards are linear since they follow a story from beginning to end. They can, however, be used for more complicated and divergent story lines when planned well.
Educationally, storyboards combine children's love of drawing and sketching with words. It is a tool that can assist them to gather their ideas, plan the flow of events, and then write the story. Storyboards also provide a physical medium for groups to use during a collaborative writing project or while preparing a presentation.
How to Use Storyboards
Storyboards can be created using software or on paper. Convenient software packages include the notes view of PowerPoint, word processing pages, or even simple drawing programs such as Paint. Many kids, especially when working in groups, find that it is easier to sketch the images for each scene on a piece of paper and add some text to explain the main events in writing.
Lessons Where Storyboards are Useful
Storyboards are useful whenever students are creating a story or sequence of events. One such lesson would be when creating a presentation, since students would be able to combine a visual aid with what they will say. Another is as a pre-writing exercise for a creative writing assignment. Using storyboards with group work, such as collaborative writing, provides students a visual format on which to collaborate. Storyboards can also aid in creating videos and animations, such as might be developed in a software package such as iMovie, Alice or Scratch.
Storyboards can be very useful for young children, too. Students learning to read and write can benefit from drawing their ideas on paper and then determining what words would best tell their story. A good lesson involving K-2 children, fairy tails and storyboards can be found at Read-Write-Think.
Though graphic organizers can be useful for visual learners, storyboards provide one more tool for teachers. Instead of only focusing on the words and ideas, storyboards also add an image or sketch to show what is happening in the scene. This allows students to visualize what they would then write or create, as well providing a verbal and visual way to express ideas when working in a group.
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