Caveat Academy course · Grades 8 to 12

Digital Storytelling

A semester course on telling true and invented stories with images, voice, sound and video: story structure, scripts and storyboards, composition, narration and mixing, editing and interactive forms, and the rights and ethics of publishing. Six modules at your own pace, with a check in every lesson and a certificate at the end.

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$19one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $19

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Middle school course library, $79 for 28 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 12 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: How stories work

    Analyze stories for three-act structure, want and need, conflict and point of view, and revise a raw memory into a story with a clear change.

    • The shape of a story
    • Character and conflict
    • Point of view and voice
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: Planning and scripting

    Plan a short digital story for a defined audience and purpose, and write a timed two-column script, storyboard and shot list.

    • Finding your story and your audience
    • Writing a script for the ear
    • Storyboards and shot lists
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Images and visual design

    Apply composition, camera angles, movement, typography and contrast to guide attention and meaning on screen.

    • Composition
    • Camera angles and movement
    • Text, color and layout on screen
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: Sound

    Record clean narration at safe levels and mix voice, music, effects and ambience so the voice stays clear.

    • Recording narration
    • Music, effects and ambience
    • Editing audio
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: Editing and new forms

    Edit for rhythm with cuts, J and L cuts and montage, and design branching and vertical stories with manageable structures and captions.

    • Editing for rhythm
    • Interactive and branching stories
    • Short, vertical and social stories
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: Ethics, rights and publishing

    Evaluate media use under copyright, fair use and Creative Commons, and publish ethically and accessibly with consent, honesty and feedback.

    • Copyright, fair use and Creative Commons
    • Telling true stories responsibly
    • Accessibility, feedback and publishing
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 3 · Composition

Worked example: placing a subject with the rule of thirds

  1. The frame is 1,920 pixels wide and 1,080 pixels tall.

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Academics · Middle SchoolAlso for Academics · High School$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A semester of digital storytelling and a planned story of your own: you can shape a memory into a three-act story, write a timed two-column script, storyboard and shot list, compose and angle shots with purpose, record and mix clear narration, edit for rhythm, design branching and vertical stories, and publish with permission, honest labeling, captions and correctly licensed media. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Students in grades 8 to 12 who want to make videos, photo stories, podcasts or interactive stories with more skill, are previewing a school media course, or are building a portfolio; homeschool families who want a complete semester unit. A phone or computer and free editing software are enough.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 144 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 12 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Middle school course library ($79) and the Academics Suite pass ($149), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The Middle School space in Caveat Academics; also listed for the High School space in Caveat Academics (the same course serves the high school Digital Storytelling title).
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

Start the course

Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. U.S. Copyright Office, copyright basics and fair use: copyright.gov
  2. Creative Commons, about the licenses: creativecommons.org
  3. W3C Web Accessibility Initiative, captions, transcripts, audio description and contrast (WCAG): w3.org/WAI
  4. Library of Congress, free-to-use and public domain collections: loc.gov/free-to-use
  5. Smithsonian Open Access, public domain images and media: si.edu/openaccess

Digital Storytelling is a self-paced course from Caveat Academic Services. It follows the sequence of a typical one-semester course but does not replace a school course or award credit. Copyright lessons explain general U.S. principles and are not legal advice. Ask permission before recording people, and students under 18 should check with a parent before publishing. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.