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 Turkey.This study investigates the perceptions of 8th grade students on the integration of technologyvia Digital Storytelling to English courses. Another aim is to find out students’ preferencesfor topic and characters in their digital stories. The study was conducted with 15 students in apublic 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 ofthe participants toward the use of digital storytelling in English lessons were positive beforeand after the implementation process with no significant difference between them pre andpost-tests. In general, the participants wanted to keep using digital storytelling because theybelieved digital storytelling is motivating, contributes to language learning, and enablescollaboration. The topics preferred were adrenalin, love, sadness, friendship, and fear. Thecharacters were generally female heroines. The implications are that digital storytelling canbe integrated into speaking, listening, grammar, vocabulary and writing activities since it isan engaging way of practising language skills.