I know digital storytelling is all about “the gift of your voice”, but after listening to my recording I fear the “gift” might not be an especially good one. Unlike Kathrin, I haven’t realized I “did” something specific to make my voice sound as it does. I am reminded of that scene in the movie Juno when the characters make fun of a girl in their high school for giving everyone “the stink eye.” Turns out, her face was just like that. I think that’s what I’m dealing with.

Anyway, this is giving me a greater appreciation for the act of recording. In my classes where students have created DSTs I designate a class period to listening to all the digital stories without video. My decision to do this was almost entirely content driven — I wanted to make sure the stories made sense without visuals and that others who were not familiar with the content could understand the story, too. Thinking back on this class period, my students were extremely good sports about listening to themselves (even students who were reluctant at first). Granted, I didn’t give them a choice, but no one really resisted. I suppose ultimately I am thinking more about the sort of personal implications of creating a DST that I hadn’t considered. Even if the story itself isn’t personal per se, the performance/recording surely is. Putting oneself out there in this way is different than producing a paper — a different type of performance of identity. Good stuff.