Watch the PBS Hawaii HIKI NŌ episode "In Control," and learn the story of Crystal Cebedo, a bright and motivated student who seeks to organize and control all aspects of her life as she faces her mom's terminal cancer.

Students then answer questions about how the video elements—images, sounds, interviews, and narration—serve to develop setting, character, plot, and theme and how those technical elements impact the power and effectiveness of the story. Having reflected on Crystal's journey, they then are asked to reflect on a personal growth experience in their own lives and plan out or storyboard a video reflection of their own.

The purpose of this lesson is threefold:

First, introducing the analytical tools to deconstruct elements of digital storytelling, in the process engaging in complex social emotional issues related to personal trauma. Second, students are asked to reflect on their own lives to find complex events that are analogous to Crystal's, to process and share those experiences with peers, and to use traditional outlining or storyboarding tools and skills to plan out how best to tell that story in a digital medium. Finally, teachers and students might consider producing a video reflection to share with peers as a way to process complex social-emotional issues in their lives.

The lesson plan provides a rubric for key English Language Arts and Media Literacy standards. There is also a rubric to support educators in grading these student self-reflections with academic rigor.

For educators new to digital storytelling, PBS Hawaii's HIKI NŌ offers a library of technical support videos for educators and students.

For more information, visit: HIKI NŌ Instructional Support Library.

To learn more, visit the HIKI NŌ: Hawai`i’s New Wave of Storytellers website!