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Tools: Storybird

Ali
Jul 28, 2015
4 min read

Storybird is an image based virtual story creator. Storybird uses images from illustrators and animators to encourage writers of all ages to create new stories. There are thousands of images available of varying styles and genres. Storybird creates the exciting opportunity for writers to publish their work online for free, accompanied by beautiful artwork. The idea is to reverse the storytelling process by having the writer choose an image before writing the actual story. The image inspires the artist and, in the words of the website, “unlocks” the story from within the writer.

Storybird is set up with educators and students in mind. The website claims to have been used in over 300 000 classrooms across the globe. When creating an account, a teacher can sign up as an educator. That teacher can then create a classroom list by adding or creating student accounts, make assignments, and monitor student activity. Teachers can share student work in the class library, so the class can view and comment on each other’s work. Students can also get inspired by viewing stories written by other people that have published their work on the site.

Writers have the choice of creating three types of stories: longform/chapter books, picture books, or a poem.

Longform/Chapter Books:

In a multi chapter book a single image is chosen for the top of the page, like the cover of a novel. The chapters go below that image, with one chapter per page so that it reads like a book.

Picture Books:

To create a picture book, the writer can use any images that an artist has created to include in their book. Writers drag what image they want to use onto the page and then add the text beside it.

Poems:

Poems are created like a refrigerator magnet poem. After choosing an image, words appear next to the image that the writer drags and drops to create a poem.

TPACK: Connection to Pedagogy

Storybird is a great platform to encourage creative writing from students. By using images to generate ideas, students can find inspiration from many different sources. The incredible amount of artwork available gives students endless possibilities. I think it would also be interesting to give the students a single image to work from and see how each student interprets the story behind the image differently. Students can collaborate on stories as well, in groups of two or more.

Storybird can be easily used with a wide range of grade levels to expose students to creative writing. Picture books with small, short sentences would be great for an introduction to creative writing, while multi chapter stories would be ideal for older students. This would also be useful for differentiation in the classroom. Students who struggle with writing can use the images as a jumping off point and write the amount that they feel comfortable with. Students who need a challenge can dive deeper into their interpretations of the images and write more complex stories. The website also offers writing prompts and ideas that a teacher could use as a class assignment or project.

Not all students enjoy writing, and many students find creative writing difficult. I think using this online tool for creative writing would engage and excite a lot more students. Creating a story that looks like a real book with professional artwork may inspire students to take their writing more seriously and take pride in their work. Many students find it difficult to begin writing, but an image can help them come up with an idea. They can also view their peers and other users work to gain insight and inspiration.

The poetry feature is not my favorite, because you can only use the words provided by the website. However, I can see how a teacher might use this as an introduction to poetry. Using provided words could be used as a way to scaffold for students who are nervous or uncertain about writing poetry or who have a difficult time with written language. If a teacher wanted the students to create their own poems, they could perhaps use the picture book to create a collection of poems.

I can also see some students becoming frustrated if the images are not exactly what they are looking for. Some students may also feel trapped that they have to tell the story that the images are showing them and not what they actually want to write. While it does have its flaws, I think it is still an excellent resource for helping students find inspiration for their writing.

Student Privacy and Fees

When creating a student account it is not necessary for a student to use an email or submit any personal information. A student can have an account using only a username and a password, which teachers can create and supply. The stories students create can be kept private so that only the students or teacher can view them. Only if a student chooses to publish their story will other users on the website be able to see it.

Storybird is free to use for educators for a class of up to 35 students for a year. Users can choose to upgrade their account by paying a fee for a pro account. Having a pro account offers benefits like having access to free PDF versions of student stories and being able to connect with other classrooms online. The fee is relatively inexpensive at $22.75 for a class of 35 students. However, upgrading is completely unnecessary if one does not want to pay the extra fee; the most important features of the website are completely free.

If the writer wishes to have a copy of their story, they can order a soft or hard cover book of their own design. They can also pay a few dollars to get a printable PDF version if they have not already paid for the pro membership. This may be a great way to get parents involved in the class, as many parents may be interested in buying their child's book to have at home after the student has completed it.

Explore Storyboard as a Student!

I have created several fake accounts to show what the site looks like as a student. Sign in using any of the following logins and passwords. Feel free to create a story or poem and add it to the student account. I would love to see what other people come up with!