Digital storytelling for impact: Documentar

Digital storytelling is a powerful way for young people to express themselves, advocate for others and engage with the world. Using blog posts, podcasts, Youtube videos and social media posts, there are so many ways for our students to join a robust dialogue online about what is happening in our world and how they can create change. 

At the beginning of the Covid 19 experience in North America, service learning master trainer Cathryn Berger Kaye noticed there weren't a lot of online spaces for young people to post their thoughts, feelings and experiences. Being someone who has worked with teachers and students (K-college) for many years, Cathy and her CBK Associates team of consultants decided to create a platform for dialogue, and Documentar was born. 

Documentar allows young people (25 and under) to submit art work, poetry, videos or any creative or reflective artifact. These are posted on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as a way to capture snapshots of stories and experiences. Adults can also submit pieces for publication, and these are posted on Fridays. All other days of the week are reserved for youth. 

If you're a teacher, you can have students submit creative responses they make in your classes. Or you can use Documentar as a provocation for class discussions, particularly conversations about current events and how your students connect with the ideas posted by other young people living in different parts of the world. 

Cathy is inviting educators to learn more about Documentar in a webinar on September 2 (to register click here). If you miss the webinar, access Documentar using these links: 

Follow Documentar 
on Instagram @documentar_ (with an underscore)
on FB and Twitter @documentarNOW

You can also connect with Cathy at cbkassociates.com and cathy@cbkassociates.com. 

Youth can submit to Documentar here: @ bit.ly/docu-123.

Hear my conversation with Cathy in the video below, and thanks for reading and listening!

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