The PERCEPTIONS AND PREFERENCES OF 8th GRADE STUDENTS IN DIGITAL STORYTELLING IN ENGLISH

Abstract

Digital storytelling is the focus of the present study due to scarcity of studies in the context of Turkey. This study investigates the perceptions of 8^th grade students on the integration of technology via Digital Storytelling to English courses. Another aim is to find out students’ preferences for topic and characters in their digital stories. The study was conducted with 15 students in a public school. The data were collected through pre-survey, digital stories, and post-survey. The study was carried out in a month period in which 5 different digital stories were created. The findings based on qualitative and quantitative analysis indicated that the perceptions of the participants toward the use of digital storytelling in English lessons were positive before and after the implementation process. In general, the participants wanted to keep using digital storytelling because they believed digital storytelling is motivating, contributes to language learning, and enables collaboration. The topics preferred were adrenalin, love, sadness, friendship, and fear. The characters were generally female heroines. The implications are that digital storytelling can be integrated into speaking, grammar, vocabulary and writing activities since it is an engaging way of practising language skills.