Digital Storytelling for Young Learners
Transform lessons into interactive stories
To Apply Contact: [email protected]
Empower Your Teaching Through Digital Storytelling
In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, digital storytelling has emerged as a transformative approach that bridges traditional narrative techniques with modern technology. This innovative Erasmus+ course is specifically designed to equip primary and lower secondary educators with the essential skills and confidence to create compelling, interactive stories that captivate young learners whilst seamlessly integrating curriculum objectives.
Digital storytelling represents far more than simply adding technology to your lessons—it's about reimagining how we engage students, foster creativity, and make learning memorable. By combining narrative structure with multimedia elements such as images, audio, video, and interactive components, teachers can create immersive learning experiences that resonate with digital-native students whilst developing critical 21st-century skills including digital literacy, creative thinking, and collaborative problem-solving.
Throughout this comprehensive five-day professional development course, you'll discover how digital storytelling can be applied across diverse subject areas, from language arts and social studies to STEM subjects and the arts. Whether you're looking to enhance student engagement, support diverse learning needs, or simply bring fresh energy to your teaching practice, this course provides the practical tools, proven strategies, and ongoing support you need to succeed.
Boost Creativity
Transform passive learners into active creators and storytellers
Increase Engagement
Capture attention with multimedia narratives that students love
Master Digital Tools
Gain confidence with user-friendly platforms perfect for primary education
Course Overview: Your Journey Begins Here
This comprehensive Erasmus+ professional development course empowers educators to seamlessly integrate digital storytelling into primary and lower secondary education. Over five intensive days, you'll move from foundational concepts to hands-on creation, developing practical skills that you can implement immediately upon returning to your classroom.
Digital storytelling harnesses the innate human love of narrative, combining it with the technological tools that define our modern world. This powerful pedagogical method enhances learning by engaging multiple senses, supporting diverse learning styles, and creating emotional connections that make content memorable and meaningful for young learners.
The course provides teachers with comprehensive training in creating interactive stories using intuitive, and accessible smart tools and platforms. These carefully selected tools require no prior technical expertise, ensuring that all participants, regardless of their comfort level with technology, can create professional quality digital stories.
What Makes This Course Special?
  • Hands-on practice with every tool and technique
  • Ready-to-use lesson plans and templates
  • Collaborative learning environment
  • Expert facilitators with classroom experience
  • Ongoing post-course support and resources
  • International networking opportunities
Participants will explore how to apply storytelling techniques across various subjects—from language development and literacy to mathematics, science, and social studies. You'll learn strategies to improve student engagement, develop inclusive and differentiated storytelling projects that meet diverse learner needs, and create creative classroom environments where every student can become a confident storyteller.
The course emphasises practical application above all else. Through hands-on practice sessions, collaborative project work, and peer feedback opportunities, you'll develop confidence and competence. By the final day, you'll leave with not just theoretical knowledge, but with completed digital storytelling projects ready to use in your classroom, alongside a comprehensive toolkit of resources, templates, and ongoing support materials.
Essential Course Details
Planning your professional development journey starts with understanding the practical details. This course has been carefully structured to provide maximum value whilst fitting within typical Erasmus+ mobility parameters and school schedules.
Duration
5 days
30 contact hours of intensive professional development
  • Monday to Friday schedule
  • Morning and afternoon sessions
  • Balanced mix of instruction and practice
Location
Amsterdam or London
Two vibrant European cities offering rich cultural experiences
  • Modern training facilities
  • Central, accessible venues
  • Excellent transport connections
Course Fee
€560
Fully eligible for Erasmus+ KA1 funding coverage
  • All training materials included
  • Digital resource access
  • Certificate of completion
Who Should Attend?
This course is specifically designed for:
  • Primary school teachers seeking to enhance digital literacy
  • Lower secondary educators across all subject areas
  • Special education teachers looking for inclusive approaches
  • School coordinators implementing digital strategies
  • Teacher trainers expanding their professional toolkit
  • School staff supporting teaching and learning
ISCED Level 1
Primary Education
Ages 6-11 years
Foundation skills development through engaging narrative-based learning experiences
ISCED Level 2
Lower Secondary
Ages 11-14 years
More sophisticated storytelling projects supporting subject-specific learning goals

Transformative Learning Objectives

This course has been meticulously designed around five core learning objectives that will transform your teaching practice. Each objective builds upon the previous one, creating a comprehensive framework for integrating digital storytelling into your educational approach. By the end of the five days, you'll have achieved measurable competencies in each of these essential areas. Master the Fundamentals Understand the principles of digital storytelling and its transformative role in modern education Create Interactive Content Develop engaging digital stories using multimedia tools and platforms designed for educational contexts Apply Across Subjects Implement storytelling techniques effectively in language, STEM, arts, and cross-curricular projects Develop Essential Skills Foster creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and digital literacy in your classroom environment Design Inclusive Projects Create differentiated storytelling experiences that engage and support diverse learners with varying needs What You'll Be Able to Do Upon successful completion of this course, you will confidently be able to: Articulate the pedagogical benefits of digital storytelling Navigate and utilise multiple digital creation platforms Design story-based lessons aligned with curriculum standards Facilitate student-led digital storytelling projects Assess and provide feedback on digital narratives Integrate multimedia elements effectively and purposefully Support students with diverse learning needs through adaptive storytelling Collaborate with colleagues to develop school-wide digital literacy initiatives Skills You'll Develop Beyond the specific learning objectives, participants develop broader professional competencies: Digital Confidence: Overcome technology anxiety and embrace digital tools Creative Thinking: Approach curriculum content with fresh, narrative perspectives Project Management: Plan and execute multi-week student projects Assessment Design: Evaluate creative work authentically Cultural Competence: Create inclusive stories reflecting diverse perspectives

Engaging Methodology & Comprehensive Assessment
We believe that professional development should model the teaching practices we hope educators will adopt. Therefore, this course employs an active, participant-centred methodology that mirrors the engaging, interactive approach you'll use with your own students when implementing digital storytelling.
Interactive Lectures
Engaging presentations introduce key concepts, demonstrate best practices, and provide theoretical foundations grounded in current educational research and pedagogy.
Hands-On Workshops
Practical sessions where you'll actively create digital stories, experiment with tools, troubleshoot challenges, and develop classroom-ready resources.
Collaborative Projects
Work alongside international colleagues to co-create storytelling projects, share diverse perspectives, and build a supportive professional learning community.
Daily Structure
Each day follows a carefully designed rhythm that balances input, practice, collaboration, and reflection:
  1. Morning Session (9:00-12:30): Introduction of new concepts through interactive presentations, followed immediately by guided practice activities where you begin applying what you've learnt.
  1. Lunch Break (12:30-14:00): Informal networking opportunity to connect with fellow educators from across Europe and exchange ideas.
  1. Afternoon Session (14:00-17:00): Extended workshop time for deeper exploration, individual project development, peer feedback sessions, and collaborative problem-solving.
  1. Daily Reflection: Each day concludes with structured reflection activities helping you connect learning to your specific teaching context.
Key Methodological Elements
  • Learn by doing—no passive listening
  • Immediate practical application
  • Differentiated support for varying skill levels
  • Peer learning and feedback cycles
  • Real classroom examples and case studies
  • Troubleshooting and problem-solving practice
Assessment Approach
Assessment in this course is designed to be meaningful, practical, and directly applicable to your teaching context. Rather than tests or examinations, you'll be assessed through the creation and presentation of an authentic digital storytelling project specifically tailored for classroom use with your students.
Project Planning
Develop a detailed plan for a digital storytelling unit aligned with your curriculum
Content Creation
Create a complete digital story demonstrating the techniques and tools covered
Peer Presentation
Share your project with colleagues, receiving constructive feedback and suggestions
Certification
Receive your completion certificate and comprehensive feedback on your work
Participants engage in regular peer feedback sessions throughout the course, developing skills in both giving and receiving constructive criticism. This collaborative assessment approach mirrors best practices in formative assessment that you can then implement with your own students. All participants receive detailed, personalised feedback from course facilitators, along with suggestions for further development and ongoing support resources.
Digital Tools & Comprehensive Resources
One of the greatest barriers to implementing digital storytelling is often uncertainty about which tools to use and how to use them effectively. This course eliminates that barrier by providing hands-on experience with carefully selected, user-friendly platforms that require no prior technical expertise whilst still producing professional-quality results.
Core Digital Platforms
Design Tools For Education
Create stunning visual stories, infographics, presentations, and multimedia content using this intuitive drag-and-drop design platform. Perfect for teachers and students alike, with thousands of templates and royalty-free images.
  • Templates specifically designed for education
  • Collaborative creation features
  • Animation and interactive elements
  • Easy publishing and sharing options
Book Creator
Develop interactive digital books incorporating text, images, audio, video, and drawings. This powerful yet simple tool allows students to become published authors, creating engaging ebooks that combine multiple media formats.
  • Audio narration recording
  • Drawing and annotation tools
  • Video embedding capabilities
  • Comic book and photo album formats
Adobe Spark & Other Platforms
Produce professional-looking graphics, web stories, and short videos without any design experience yet with comprehensive storytelling options.
  • Web-based story pages with scrolling narratives
  • Animated videos with voiceover
  • Social graphics and posters
  • Brand customisation options
Simple Video Editing
Master straightforward video editing platforms including iMovie, WeVideo, and Clips. Learn essential editing techniques such as trimming, transitions, titles, and soundtracks to create polished video stories.
  • Basic editing skills for beginners
  • Adding music and sound effects
  • Green screen techniques
  • Exporting and sharing finished videos
Additional Tools & Resources
Beyond the core platforms, you'll also gain familiarity with:
  • Padlet: For collaborative story planning and brainstorming
  • Flipgrid: For student video responses and oral storytelling
  • Storybird: For creating illustrated stories and poetry
  • Chatterpix: For making pictures talk in creative ways
  • Stop Motion Studio: For creating animated stories
  • Buncee: For multimedia presentations with interactive elements
All tools selected are either free or available through affordable educational licences, ensuring accessibility for schools with varying budgets.
Comprehensive Resource Package
Every participant receives extensive materials to support ongoing implementation:
  • Ready-to-use lesson plan templates
  • Storyboarding worksheets and planning tools
  • Assessment rubrics and evaluation criteria
  • Copyright and digital citizenship guidelines
  • Troubleshooting guides and quick-start tutorials
  • Curated lists of royalty-free images, music, and sound effects
  • Age-appropriate project examples across subjects
  • Parent communication templates

Ongoing Support & Online Hub
Your learning doesn't end when the course does. All participants receive 12 months' access to our exclusive online resource hub, featuring video tutorials, additional templates, a private forum for questions and idea-sharing, monthly webinars with guest experts, and a growing library of classroom-tested storytelling projects. This ongoing community ensures you'll have support as you implement digital storytelling throughout the school year.
Why This Course Will Transform Your Teaching
With countless professional development opportunities available, you might wonder what makes this digital storytelling course truly special. The answer lies in its unique combination of practical applicability, comprehensive support, accessibility through Erasmus+ funding, and proven impact on both teaching practice and student outcomes.
Practical, Classroom-Ready Skills
Unlike theoretical courses that leave you wondering how to apply concepts, every element of this training focuses on practical, immediately implementable strategies. You'll leave with completed projects, tested lesson plans, and the confidence to start your first digital storytelling unit on Monday morning. No abstract theory—just proven techniques that work with real students in real classrooms.
Dramatically Enhanced Student Engagement
Digital storytelling taps into students' natural love of narrative and technology, creating learning experiences that feel more like creating a video game or movie than completing traditional assignments. Participants consistently report increased student motivation, improved attendance during storytelling units, and students voluntarily spending extra time perfecting their projects. When learning feels creative and purposeful, engagement soars.
Full Erasmus+ KA1 Funding Eligibility
This course is completely eligible for Erasmus+ Key Action 1 (KA1) mobility funding, meaning your school can access grants covering course fees, travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs. We provide comprehensive support with the application process, including sample documentation and guidance on maximising your funding application. Professional development shouldn't strain school budgets—European funding makes this world-class training accessible.
Additional Compelling Benefits
  • Cross-Curricular Application: Use storytelling techniques in language arts, maths, science, social studies, and the arts—one skillset enhances all subjects
  • Differentiation Made Easy: Digital tools naturally support varied ability levels, allowing all students to succeed whilst being appropriately challenged
  • 21st Century Skills Development: Address multiple competency frameworks including digital literacy, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking
  • International Networking: Connect with educators from across Europe, sharing best practices and building lasting professional relationships
  • Portfolio Building: Create polished examples of innovative teaching that enhance your professional portfolio and career progression
  • Confidence with Technology: Overcome any technology anxiety through supportive, hands-on learning in a low-stakes environment
  • Student Voice Amplification: Provide students with powerful tools to express themselves, share perspectives, and develop authentic digital communication skills
"This course completely transformed how I approach teaching. My students are more engaged, more creative, and developing genuine digital literacy skills. The best professional development I've ever experienced."
— Sarah Mitchell, Primary Teacher, Dublin
94%
Participant Satisfaction
Rate the course as excellent or outstanding
87%
Immediate Implementation
Use digital storytelling within first month of return
3.5x
Engagement Increase
Average improvement in student participation rates
Accessing Erasmus+ Funding for Your Professional Development
One of the most significant advantages of this course is its full eligibility for Erasmus+ Key Action 1 (KA1) mobility funding. This European Union programme provides substantial grants to schools and educational institutions, enabling teachers across Europe to participate in high-quality professional development experiences abroad. Understanding how to access this funding transforms professional development from an expense into an investment opportunity.
What is Erasmus+ KA1 Funding?
Erasmus+ Key Action 1 supports learning mobility for individuals, including school staff professional development. This programme provides funding for course fees, international travel, accommodation, subsistence (daily living expenses), and organisational support. The funding is designed to make international professional development accessible to educators from all backgrounds and all types of schools, regardless of location or economic circumstance.
01
Check Eligibility
Confirm your school is eligible (all state schools and most accredited private institutions across EU member states and partner countries qualify)
02
Identify Needs
Document how digital storytelling addresses specific development needs in your school development plan
03
Prepare Application
Complete the application form through your National Agency, including European Development Plan and impact assessment
04
Submit by Deadline
Submit before the annual deadline (typically February) for funding beginning the following academic year
05
Receive Decision
National Agencies typically communicate decisions within 3-5 months of submission
06
Book Your Course
Once approved, reserve your place and arrange travel with your allocated grant funding
What Costs Does Funding Cover?
Erasmus+ funding is designed to cover all reasonable costs associated with your professional development mobility. The grant includes:
  • Course Fee: The full €560 course fee is covered
  • Travel Costs: Based on distance bands, typically €275-€360 for most European destinations
  • Individual Support: Daily subsistence allowance (€120-€180 per day depending on destination) covering accommodation and meals
  • Organisational Support: Contribution towards preparation, monitoring, and follow-up activities
  • Linguistic Support: Access to online language learning if needed
The exact amounts vary by country and distance, but the programme is designed to ensure no out-of-pocket expenses for participants. Schools typically receive the full grant upfront and manage disbursements.
Application Support
We understand that the application process can seem daunting, particularly for first-time applicants. We provide:
  • Sample application documents
  • Course descriptions aligned with application requirements
  • Suggested text for European Development Plans
  • Expected impact statements
  • Dissemination activity templates
  • Telephone support for queries

Important Information About Timing
Erasmus+ KA1 applications are typically submitted once per year (deadline usually in February) for mobilities taking place in the following academic year. This means some advance planning is necessary. However, if your school already has an approved Erasmus+ grant for staff mobility, places can often be booked immediately. Contact your school's Erasmus+ coordinator or international office to explore current funding availability.
Beyond Erasmus+: Alternative Funding Routes
For schools not currently participating in Erasmus+, or for educators in non-EU countries, alternative funding options may include:
National Professional Development Grants
Many countries operate teacher development grant schemes. Contact your national education ministry or teachers' union.
School Continuing Professional Development Budgets
Most schools allocate annual CPD funding. Speak with your headteacher or professional development coordinator.
Educational Foundation Grants
Various charitable foundations support teacher professional development. Research options specific to your region.

Bringing Digital Storytelling to Life in Your Classroom

The ultimate measure of any professional development is its impact on actual classroom practice and student learning outcomes. This final section explores the concrete, practical applications of digital storytelling across various subjects and age groups, providing specific examples and implementation strategies that transform theoretical knowledge into classroom reality. Cross-Curricular Applications: Where Stories Enhance Every Subject Digital storytelling is remarkably versatile, enhancing learning across the entire curriculum. Teachers learn to design storytelling projects that align perfectly with curriculum goals, support language development, encourage cross-disciplinary learning, and address multiple learning objectives simultaneously. The key is understanding how narrative structure can frame content in memorable, meaningful ways regardless of subject area. Language Arts & Literacy Digital Storybooks: Students create original narratives or retell classic tales, incorporating their own illustrations, voice narration, and sound effects. This develops writing skills, vocabulary, comprehension, and oral fluency simultaneously. Character Journals: Students adopt the perspective of book characters, creating multimedia diaries exploring motivations and perspectives, deepening comprehension. Poetry Videos: Transform written poems into visual experiences combining imagery, animation, and spoken word performance. Science & STEM Scientific Process Narratives: Document experiments and investigations through photo-based stories, explaining hypotheses, methods, observations, and conclusions in engaging formats. Life Cycle Stories: Create animated narratives following organisms through developmental stages, making abstract concepts concrete and memorable. Inventor Biographies: Research and present stories of scientists and inventors, connecting STEM content to human stories and historical context. History & Social Studies Historical Timelines: Build interactive, multimedia timelines incorporating maps, primary source documents, images, and narrative explanations of historical events and their significance. Perspective Stories: Explore historical events from multiple viewpoints, developing critical thinking about bias, perspective, and historical interpretation. Cultural Heritage Projects: Interview family members and create digital stories preserving personal and cultural histories, connecting curriculum to students' lives. Mathematics Maths Story Problems: Students create and illustrate their own word problems, making abstract concepts concrete whilst developing problem-creation and problem-solving skills. Real-World Maths Applications: Document how maths appears in daily life through photo essays, connecting curriculum to authentic contexts. Geometry in Architecture: Explore shapes and spatial reasoning through architectural photography and analysis presented as visual stories. Implementation Strategies: From Planning to Assessment Successful digital storytelling projects require thoughtful planning, clear scaffolding, and appropriate assessment approaches. During the course, you'll develop comprehensive implementation strategies including: Project Planning Framework Learning Objectives: Identify specific curriculum goals and skills the project will address Story Structure: Determine narrative framework (linear, branching, circular, etc.) appropriate for content Technology Selection: Choose digital tools that match learning goals, student abilities, and available resources Timeline Development: Create realistic schedules with clear milestones for brainstorming, drafting, creating, and presenting Differentiation Planning: Prepare supports and extensions ensuring all learners can participate meaningfully Assessment Design: Develop rubrics evaluating both content learning and digital literacy skills Scaffolding Student Success Model Examples: Show exemplar stories demonstrating quality work Storyboarding: Provide planning templates helping students organise ideas before digital creation Skill-Building Lessons: Teach technical skills explicitly before expecting independent application Checkpoints: Build in regular review points for feedback and course correction Peer Collaboration: Structure opportunities for students to help each other troubleshoot Celebration: Create authentic audiences through showcases, parent events, or online sharing Assessment Beyond Traditional Tests Digital storytelling enables rich, authentic assessment that values creativity alongside content knowledge. Course participants learn to develop comprehensive rubrics addressing: Content Accuracy Factual correctness, depth of understanding, and appropriate use of subject-specific vocabulary and concepts Narrative Quality Story structure, coherence, engagement, appropriate pacing, and effective use of narrative techniques Technical Execution Effective use of digital tools, visual quality, audio clarity, and overall technical polish Creativity & Originality Unique approaches, innovative thinking, and personal voice evident in the final product "I was initially worried about managing technology in the classroom, but the course gave me such practical strategies that my first digital storytelling unit went smoothly. The students were incredible—even my reluctant writers produced amazing work. Digital storytelling has become a staple in my teaching across multiple subjects." — Marcus Peterson, Year 5 Teacher, Stockholm Ready to Transform Your Teaching? Digital storytelling represents the future of engaging, meaningful education that prepares students for a digital world whilst nurturing timeless skills of creativity, communication, and critical thinking. This Erasmus+ course provides everything you need to confidently implement these powerful approaches in your classroom—practical skills, ongoing support, proven strategies, and an international community of innovative educators. To Apply Contact: [email protected]

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