Storyboarding - Visualizing Student Learning

Storyboarding isn't just for filmmakers; it's a powerful tool that makes learning interactive and enjoyable across various subjects and grade levels.

What are Storyboards?

Storyboards are tools that can be used for planning, visualizing, and communicating ideas with others. They are a visual representation of a story or narrative arranged in a way to organize a sequence of events using images, shapes, or illustrations. The visuals provide a framework to help convey a clear message of the story or process depicted. Storyboards can be hand-drawn or created digitally.

Photo by Matt Popovich on Unsplash

In filmmaking, storyboards are used as a visual outline of a film. From the opening shot to the final frame of the movie, storyboards help filmmakers map out exactly how the film should look and feel. They are visual reference points to shot sizes, angles and framing of each shot, audio cues, dialogue, props, character movements, and other visual details. Storyboards are concise and easy to understand.

Storyboards are also used in business and marketing industries. They help visualize ideas, strategize advertising campaigns, improve user experiences (UX/UI), incorporate design thinking, and help structure and organize complex projects.

Photo by UX Indonesia on Unsplash

There are some cool websites like StoryboardThat and StudioBinder that go deeper into the storyboarding process. I encourage you to check them out!

The same tool used by professionals can be used in the classroom. 

Download the Keynote of ideas shown here in the link at the end. Includes two simple storyboard templates that can be customized and used digitally in Keynote, or printed.

Whether planning a science experiment, illustrating a historical event, or breaking down a math problem, storyboarding encourages students to express themselves and think outside of the box. 

Storyboarding Encourages Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Collaboration

By integrating iPads and and using design tools like Keynote, Canva, and Adobe Express, learners of all grades can develop storyboards that capture key concepts and moments from their lessons. This not only reinforces their knowledge but also levels up their visual storytelling and digital literacy skills. 

Canva and Adobe Express offer a lot of different style storyboard templates you can customize for use in the classroom. Best of all, they are free!

Example of a film storyboard template created in Canva

Integrating Storyboards in the Classroom

Storyboards are a great way to help students visualize complex concepts. Below are some ways to integrate storyboards into any subject area or age group from K-12 to postsecondary.

Objective: Students will learn to create storyboards to document their learning process and present their understanding of a given concept or topic.

Examples can vary by grade level:

• K-2: A sequence of events in a storybook.
• 3-5: A science experiment or historical event.
• 6-8: A chapter from a novel or a complex scientific process.
• 9-12: An in-depth analysis of a literary work or a real-world issue.
• Higher Education: A comprehensive study or research project, or an analysis of advanced theoretical concepts.

Materials Needed:

• iPads or smartphones with cameras
• Canva, Adobe Express, Keynote, or similar design software
• Storyboard templates (printable or digital)
• Markers, pencils, and erasers (if using printed templates)
• Access to an iPad for each student or group (depending on number of available devices)

Activity Duration:

Varies by subject area/grade level/activity. Approximates given in the Project Guide below. 

Project Guide:

Introduction (10+ minutes)

• Begin with a discussion on the importance of visual storytelling in communication.
• Show examples of storyboards from movies, advertisements, or educational videos. Tailor your examples to be relevant to your content area and age-appropriate for your students.
• Explain how storyboards help plan and organize thoughts visually and its significance in documenting understanding.

Concept/Topic Introduction (20 minutes)

• Introduce the specific concept or topic that students will be documenting. This could be a scientific process, a historical event, a mathematical concept, or a literary theme.
• Discuss the key elements that should be included in their storyboards.

Storyboard Planning (15+ minutes)

• Provide students with storyboard templates - digital or printed.
• Templates can be created using Canva, Adobe Express, or Keynote.
• Guide students through the process of breaking down the concept into key moments or steps.
• Encourage students to sketch their ideas, noting down important details, sequences of events, dialogues, or actions for each frame.
• Encourage creativity and detail in their planning. Provide additional guidance and support for younger students, and allow higher education students to delve into more complex and detailed storyboards.

Creating Storyboard Images (20+ minutes)

• Once the storyboard planning is complete, students will use iPads or digital cameras to take photographs or draw illustrations that correspond to each frame in the storyboard.
• Ask them to take multiple shots for each frame to ensure they have good options to choose from later.
• If possible, allow students to work in pairs or small groups to assist each other. Provide supervision and assistance for younger students, while allowing older students more independence and creativity in their work.

There is so much flexibility here. Storyboards can be completed digitally on iPads, or templates can be printed for a combo of analog/digital creation. You can even go wild and have students create their own storyboard template in Canva, Adobe Express, Keynote, or any other digital design tool. Any of these ways, or a combo of ways is totally ok!

Combining Storyboards and Photos (20+ minutes)

• Using the digital design tool of choice, students will add their images/illustrations to the story board.
• Teach students how to upload images, arrange them on the storyboard, and add any additional text or annotations.
• Emphasize the importance of coherence and clarity in their final product.

Presentation and Reflection Ideas

• Have students present their storyboards to the class.
• Encourage peer feedback focusing on the clarity and creativity of the visual representation.
• Conclude with a reflection session where students discuss what they learned about the concept through this visual documentation process.
• Discuss how storyboarding skills can be applied in other academic and real-world contexts.

Assessment Ideas

Evaluate the completed storyboards for clarity, creativity, and coherence. Review the final presentation for completeness, visual appeal, and how well it documents the chosen concept.

• Creativity and accuracy in their storyboard creation
• Quality and relevance of their photographs/illustrations
• Ability to clearly present and explain their concept using visual aids
• Participation in discussions and reflections

Extensions

For younger students: Simplify the storyboard process and provide more guided steps.

For older students: Incorporate advanced photography techniques and editing tools.

Conclusion

Using storyboards to document helps students from kindergarten through higher education enhance their ability to visualize and communicate complex ideas through creative and engaging visual storytelling. Give it a try and watch your students' learning come to life!

Feel free to share your experiences and adaptations of this activity in the comments below. Let's inspire each other with new ways to make learning visually engaging and fun!

Attachments

Storyboarding Ideas and Templates.key

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