Are you a See Stories teacher alumni who participated in Teacher Professional Development and are passionate about digital storytelling and podcasting? Do you believe in empowering students to share their stories and cultural identity through multimedia? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you! 

Through the DEED Afterschool Competitive Grant, See Stories is offering 25 teachers the chance to lead after-school workshops in podcasting and digital storytelling for See Stories Teacher Alumni. This paid opportunity aims to foster creativity, cultural understanding, and communication skills among students, using accessible technology that already exists in schools and communities. 

Eligibility and Compensation

• To lead these workshops, teachers must have been trained through the See Stories Teacher Professional Development program. 
• The selected digital podcasting and storytelling leaders will receive $2,500 compensation for leading the after-school workshops.
• The selected digital podcasting and storytelling leaders will also schedule meeting check-ins every other week with See Stories staff to receive support and guidance. 

The afterschool program can be conducted in either the fall or spring semester, with a minimum requirement of 48 hours of after-school contact. Teachers have the flexibility to design their schedules, either meeting twice a week for two hours each session or creating their own timetable that totals 48 contact hours. Additionally, the program is open to extending to 24 weeks, allowing for a more gradual and immersive experience.

The Deliverable 

At the end of the program, each participating student will produce a final digital story and/or podcast. Teachers can choose between podcasting or digital storytelling as their media. The timeline of the program is carefully planned to ensure each student has ample time to create their media product and build a positive relationship with a supportive adult in a small student-to-teacher ratio environment.

The Program: Empowering Through Storytelling

The afterschool program is designed to empower students to document, create, and share their stories through podcasting and digital storytelling. One of the key features of this initiative is the emphasis on accessibility. Instead of focusing on costly recording equipment, the program encourages teachers to utilize the resources available in their schools and communities. Whether it’s Chromebooks, macs, cameras, smartphones, or iPads, the goal is to show students that they can begin their storytelling journey with the tools they have at hand.

The heart of the afterschool program lies in the opportunity for students to delve into culturally related topics of their choice. They will be encouraged to explore subjects they are passionate about and that relate to their cultural identity. Throughout the workshops, students will develop interview questions and interview people in their family and community. They will then edit their work into a finished product, be it a podcast, digital story, or both.

To ensure an enriching experience, each after-school workshop will feature at least one Elder or community member as a guest speaker. This way, students can practice their interview skills and create audio-visual recordings. Interviewing family, friends, and community members who can speak about the chosen film or podcast topic will further enhance the significance of the students’ creations.

Application Timeline

• The application deadline is August 27, 2023

• Interviews will be conducted during the week of August 27, 2023

• Final selections communicated by Sep 1, 2023
• Selected teachers can lead a program in fall ‘23 or spring ‘24

The Paid Opportunity to lead an afterschool program for See Stories Alumni, funded by the DEED Afterschool Competitive Grant, is a fantastic chance for teachers to empower students through multimedia storytelling. By encouraging cultural exploration and utilizing accessible technology, the program aims to equip students with valuable communication skills and a platform to share their unique stories with the world. 

If you are a See Stories Alumni and have a passion for storytelling, don’t miss out on this amazing paid opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of young minds. Please note that if you are nervous about the IT side of teaching this class, you are not alone. See Stories staff will support you through the process. You do not have to be a camera or editing whiz to facilitate this after-school program!

Click here to access the application form.

Open until August 27, 2023.

You are welcome to email Marie Acemah, See Stories’ Director, (marie@seestories.org) with questions.