On Thursday, September 24th, the Intercultural Digital Storytelling Project (IDSP) hosted its first event of the year, the 2016 IDSP Fellowship Information Session.  The IDSP fellowship is an opportunity for MIIS students participating in J-term immersive learning, to join a cohort of students that will create digital stories inspired by their experiences.

At the session, students used a storytelling technique called #blackoutpoetry to inspire creativity. Armed with only 8 minutes, a newspaper clipping, and a black sharpie, they produced short story poems to introduce themselves and get aquatinted with the culture at IDSP.  “At first I was overwhelmed, but once I started it just flowed, and was a lot fun,” said one of the participants.

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Storytelling is a powerful tool that can inspire action, empathy, and change.  It is no wonder that it is becoming an increasingly sought out communication technique in the social impact and non-profit sectors.

“Digital storytelling is exciting because it uses modern tools and technology to connect us to the common humanity we find through stories.  There is so much potential for creativity and collaboration,” said Anna Santos, IDSP Senior Fellow.

The project spans over the Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters, and aims to maximize potential for personal intercultural competency development through peer interaction, self-reflection, design, and digital media. Fellows will be given an ipod Touch to record images, audio and video while on their immersive learning experience.  In the Spring semester, the cohort will come together and support each other in creating their own digital stories.

IDSP will be accepting online applications for the 2016 Fellowship until October 8th, 2015 on the IDSP website.

For 2015 project examples, check out the video below: