In the pilot implementation of the program, which took place between March and June 2022, eight teachers participated, five from the 1st Experimental Primary School of Thessaloniki (Athina Malea, Ntina Mystakidou, Myrto Nerantzi, Stella Siouli and Kyriaki Sismanidou) and three from the 1st Experimental High School of Larisa (Tina Georgiou, Thaleia Kolokotroni and Zeta Tsinga).
| Grade | Subject |
|---|---|
| 4th Grade Primary | Skills Lab: Diversity |
| 5th Grade Primary | English Language |
| 5th Grade Primary | German Language |
| 6th Grade Primary | Greek History |
| 6th Grade Primary | English Language |
| 1st Grade Junior High School | French Language |
| 2nd Grade Junior High School | Modern Greek Language |
| 3rd Grade Junior High School | Greek History |
Approximately 180 students participated in the pilot and 69 digital stories were created (48 individual and 21 group). Group digital stories were created exclusively in primary classes. In junior high school classes, while students workde individually, they tended to collaborate with one another during various stages of the digital story production process.
Basic Conclusions from the Pilot
The initial lesson plans proved to be functional, since minimal changes and/or additions were made.
More than 60% of the participating students finished their digital stories. The remainder worked up to a point of the production process, without seeing it through.
Giving feedback to the students at each stage of the production process and the use of the rubrics for assessment are two key take-away points.
The digital stories submitted are notable for their variety in genre (informative, fictional, experiential) and imagery used (original drawings and sketches, computer-generated images, personal photos, photos from the internet, paintings, stop motion, playmobil). Their shortcomings are mainly at the technical level (image analysis, voice recording, audio-visual coordination, lack of music) while more serious shortcomings are (a) impersonal narrative and (b) the absence of opening and end titles.
The students, according to the analysis of the questionnaires completed, stated that they enjoyed the program (>90%), and that they became better in the subject taught, as well as exhibited their various talents (>80%).
