The hybrid nature of the Digital Storytelling (DS), combining narrative/creative processes and use of technology to actual develop the final output, makes it a powerful and flexible tool for participatory action research and to build social empathy.

There is a variety of ways in which the DS method has been put into practice worldwide, but generally speaking, the DS process follows 5 steps as illustrated below:

1. Briefing and Story-circle

In this phase participants are introduced to the elements of a Digital Story and receive a clear explanation of the process and timescale involved. It is generally recommended to send in advance some preparation notes, so to enable participants to maximize their experience during the workshop. After the briefing, the actual storytelling process starts with a story-circle, during which participants come together (ideally in groups of 8-10 for each facilitator) to start sharing verbally their first concept of a story.