Adopting digital storytelling in English classrooms: lessons learned from Indonesian EFL teachers’ reflective practice

ABSTRACT

Digital Storytelling (DST) is a unique and powerful way of conveying knowledge and experiences in almost all fields. The use of DST as knowledge transfer media is a perfect choice, especially in classrooms where knowledge and experiences are shared. However, Indonesian English as Foreign Language (EFL) teachers have little experience in adopting DST in classrooms, especially in English language classrooms. In this regard, this study aims at exploring Indonesian EFL teachers’ experience of applying DST in their classrooms through reflective practice. This case study recruited six EFL teachers as the participants. The teachers participated in a four-week workshop introducing digital storytelling and its potential to be adopted in English classrooms. They were required to create a DST-based lesson plan, implement the lesson plan, and create a DST book. The data were collected from teachers’ written reflective journals and semi-structured interviews. Following Farrell’s stages of English teachers’ reflective practice, this study revealed that Indonesian EFL teachers refined their beliefs and teaching principles as a result of adopting DST in their classrooms. In the practice, teachers saw that DST-based teaching and learning activities encourage students’ active engagement. Implications and further recommendations are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital storytelling
• English teacher
• instructional media
• reflective practice in Indonesia
• teacher professional development

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nur Arifah Drajati

Nur Arifah Drajati is a lecturer of the English Language Education Department of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS). She contributed to several reputable journals. Her research interests lie in technology in language learning, TPACK, Multimodal, and IDLE.

Hilda Rakerda

Hilda Rakerda is a graduate student in the English Department of Teacher Training and Education Faculty Universitas Sebelas Maret. Currently. She has been doing research in teacher professional development and technology-enhance language learning field.

Martono

Martono. is a teaching staff in English Education Department of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS). His research interest is in English Language Teaching, English pronunciation skills, and English-Speaking skill.

I Putu Indra Kusuma

I Putu Indra Kusuma is an assistant professor at the English Language Education Department of the Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Indonesia. His current research focuses on Computer-assisted Language Learning and Mobile-assisted Language Learning, including sub-topics like language assessments, TESOL, and Teacher professional development.

Siti Drivoka Sulistyaningrum

Siti Drivoka Sulistyaningrum is a senior lecturer in the Master of English Language Education program at the Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ). She is interested in exploring research related to English language teaching (ELT), course content development, and information, communication, and technology (ICT) in education.

Ma’rifatul Ilmi

Ma’rifatul Ilmi is a magister student majoring English Education in Universitas Sebelas Maret. She has been conducting research in the field of technology-enhanced English teaching and teachers’ reflective practice. She is interested in researching English education field including teaching strategy, technology in English teaching, teachers’ reflective practice, and teachers’ professional development.