Digital Change Makers: Mobile Storytelling & Media Literacy (8 Weeks)

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About Course

Learn media literacy, create powerful stories on your phone, and publish a final project in 8 weeks.

Digital Change Makers is a mobile-first online course by YouthLearn Africa that helps young people build media literacy and real digital production skills. Learners create one meaningful output every week—story seeds, storyboards, photo essays, audio stories, and videos ending with a final published story and an online exhibition showcase.

What Will You Learn?

  • Create powerful stories using only a smartphone (photo, audio, and video)
  • Plan stories using story circles, pitching, scripts, and storyboards
  • Use the SAMS framework (Story, Audience, Message, Style) to analyze and improve media
  • Shoot better mobile video using shot types, sequencing, stability, and B-roll
  • Record clear voice and sound, including basic interview techniques and consent
  • Edit a rough cut and revise into a polished final story (Final Cut)
  • Identify bias, misinformation, and credibility signals in online content
  • Practice safe and ethical storytelling (privacy, consent, respectful representation)
  • Publish confidently with a simple distribution plan and call-to-action
  • Showcase work in an online exhibition and receive a certificate of completion

Course Content

Week 1: Media Literacy Foundations + My Voice Story Seed
In Week 1, learners shift from passive media consumption to responsible creation. We introduce media literacy basics (bias, intent, credibility), the SAMS feedback framework (Story, Audience, Message, Style), and course safety guidelines (consent, privacy, respectful representation). Weekly outputs: My Media Map + 60–90s “My Voice” story seed + 1-page SAMS analysis of a media example.

Week 2: Story Circles, Pitching + Storyboarding
Learners discover meaningful stories through story circles, then shape their ideas into a clear pitch and message. They plan their project using a simple script/narration outline and a storyboard that guides production.

Week 3: Visual Storytelling + Photography + Photo Essay
Learners develop visual storytelling skills using mobile photography and ethical image-making. They produce a photo essay with captions and sequencing that clearly communicates a message and story arc.

Week 4: Audio Storytelling Voice, Interview + Sound
Learners practice audio storytelling—recording clean voice, using ambient sound, and (optionally) conducting short interviews with consent. They create a structured audio story and strengthen ethical storytelling habits.

Week 5: Mobile Video Production + Shooting for Story
Learners shoot better mobile video using shot types, stability, and simple sequencing. They film a short story sequence guided by a shot list and learn how B-roll supports meaning and emotion.

Week 6: Editing + Rough Cut Critique
Learners edit their work into a rough cut using a practical mobile workflow. They participate in structured peer critique using SAMS and create a revision plan to improve clarity, pacing, sound, and message.

Week 7: Media Literacy for Impact, Truth, Bias + Distribution
Learners deepen media literacy for impact—verification habits, misinformation awareness, and responsible representation. They create a simple distribution plan and a campaign asset (poster/teaser/posts) to support their story.

Week 8: Final Cut + Online Exhibition Showcase
Learners complete their final cut, write an artist statement, and prepare an exhibition-ready entry with credits and permissions. The course ends with an online showcase and reflection on growth as a Digital Change Maker.

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