I have decided. A phD is not really what I want. If it's fits into my plan to open an after-school type of center that is built upon story then that's great, but I don't want to finish this degree and then go to school for six years and not pursue a university position. I want to teach. I want to continue working with kids. I want to dedicate my time to helping people tell stories using a variety of media, and maybe stumble upon an engaging way to perform a multimedia story.
So, my vision for a center that focuses on story looks like this: a student arrives at the center after school around two or three in the afternoon. The center is build upon Brenda Ueland's quote that "Everyone is talented, original and has something important to say." The student has a choice each time they arrive at the center: how do I want to explore the idea of story? Do I want to listen to a story by, say, master storyteller Jay O'Callahan on a cassette or watch a movie or work on a monologue or participate in a drama or play a video game or edit a digital story on the computer or use an on-line storytelling environment. The idea is that students are exploring story from a multimedia perspective. Structures are in place to coach students in the creation of their own stories using a variety of media. Writing is at the core of all activities. Students critque stories that they see in the many forms available: print, web, film, movement, music, painting, etc. as a way to learn story aspects and techniques.
I can't think of anything greater I'd rather spend my time teaching people. Story generates community and supports literacy development. Perhaps, two of the most important things for the future.
I have the teaching skills and the story coaching background, but I want the technical digital media production skills. The problem inherent in digital media production is guessing which set of software programs will mature and hold their place in the industry. If you back the wrong horse, you're screwed.
I'm going with the Macromedia Suite. I think I'll create a mock-up of my future Multimedia Storytelling Center as a CD-ROM.
