ROSA
CASTRO
In this Book Creator storytelling project, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Archita. We divided the tasks as follows: I was responsible for writing the storyline, while she took charge of the book's design. Initially, we discussed and brainstormed ideas to determine the theme of our story. Once we had a clear direction, I focused on developing the narrative, while Archita brought the story to life through visuals and the sequencing of content. In the final stage, we worked together to refine all sections and details of our book.
I found the collaborative experience particularly enriching. We both had numerous ideas to contribute and supported one another by sharing digital tools and resources that the other had not previously encountered. However, one of the main challenges we faced was working on the Book Creator platform using two separate accounts. To overcome this, we decided to work exclusively from Archita’s account, which allowed us to maintain consistency in the book’s design across all sections. Additionally, we realized that remote collaboration was not ideal for us, as there were many aspects I wanted to explain in person regarding improvements to our book. As a result, it was necessary for us to meet in person to discuss the design, record our voiceovers, and finalize the details we wanted to include.
Regarding digital tools, we initially explored using other platforms, such as Leonardo AI, to generate images. Although the quality of the images was impressive, we encountered an issue where the visual features of our protagonists would change with each image generation. Furthermore, the number of images we could produce was very limited. Consequently, we opted to use ChatGPT for image generation. One of the main challenges in using this tool was achieving visual outputs that aligned with our intended design. It was often frustrating to receive images that did not accurately reflect the characteristics of our protagonists. However, this process taught us how to craft detailed and well-structured prompts. Based on this experience, I believe that prompt writing is a key digital skill that must be developed in order to use AI tools effectively. We also used ElevenLabs to generate the voice-over for our story.
The most meaningful aspect of this project was writing the story and selecting the protagonists for our visuals. Our theme focused on cultural diversity, which made the story highly personal for both of us. Archita and I are currently living and studying in a foreign country, and we have experienced cultural differences while adapting to life in Taiwan.
From a teaching perspective, I believe this type of project could be highly beneficial in the classroom. It could encourage students to share their own stories through a digital book format, allowing them to enjoy the creative process while enhancing their English language proficiency. Moreover, this activity would offer opportunities to practice and develop digital literacy and AI-related skills within an academic context. By integrating storytelling with technology, students can engage in meaningful, real-world tasks that promote creativity, collaboration, and intercultural awareness.
Digital Storytelling
