One innovative literacy learning resource I found is StoryboardThat , a web-based platform that allows students and teachers to create digital storyboards using visual elements, text, and narration. This platform is highly valuable for literacy instruction because it supports the development of both reading and writing skills in a creative and interactive way.

What makes StoryboardThat innovative is its ability to integrate visual and narrative literacy simultaneously. Students are not only writing but also visualizing their ideas through a sequence of images that form a storyline. This enhances their understanding of text structure, dialogue usage, and idea organization. In language learning contexts, it also helps students practice grammar, vocabulary, and expressions in authentic settings.

From a literacy pedagogy perspective, using StoryboardThat reflects several contemporary literacy approaches:

• Multimodal literacy, as students work with both text and images simultaneously.
• Student-centered learning, as students have autonomy in designing and narrating their stories.
• Collaborative learning, since storyboards can be used for group projects, discussions, and peer reviews.

Teachers can use it to support various text genres: narrative, descriptive, or expository. For instance, in a middle school literacy lesson, students could use the platform to summarize a novel or recreate a key scene from a short story they’ve read in class.

With limited free access and a premium version offering full features, StoryboardThat remains a versatile tool for diverse educational contexts.

References:

Walsh, M. (2010). Multimodal literacy: What does it mean for classroom practice? Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 33(3), 211–239.

Rowsell, J. (2013). Working with Multimodality: Rethinking Literacy in a Digital Age. Routledge.

Serafini, F. (2015). Reading the Visual: An Introduction to Teaching Multimodal Literacy. Teachers College Press.

StoryboardThat. (2025). Educational Edition Overview. Retrieved from: https://www.storyboardthat.com/

Cope, B., & Kalantzis, M. (2009). “Multiliteracies”: New Literacies, New Learning. Pedagogies: An International Journal, 4(3), 164–195.