There is a robust body of literature, as well as academic debate, on what it means to flourish and how universities can support students in realizing their full potential. Yet, there is no one definition of ‘flourishing’ — all students hold their own histories, identities, and hopes.
Embracing that reality is foundational to promoting flourishing in higher education. This toolkit does just that — it makes space for students to deepen their own sense of a full and meaningful life and reveal those visions to others.
Digital storytelling can open the way
Digital storytelling offers a powerful way to elevate both individual and community perspectives. It blends narrative, reflection, and digital media to share experiences in accessible and creative forms.
More than a technical skill set, digital storytelling is a democratic practice. It reclaims narrative power by amplifying voices that might otherwise be overlooked and builds social connection and collective understanding along the way.
Looking for inspiration? StoryCenter’s website contains many examples of digital stories organized by theme.
Piloted with a group of undergraduate students in 2025, this comprehensive resource contains all the guidance that an educator needs to facilitate digital storytelling:
Six lessons take students through a series of Writers Workshops to draft the narrative of what will eventually become their digital story. This unit emphasizes group connections, icebreakers, and teambuilding.
Students work independently on finalizing their storyboard and gathering content (photos and audio) that will eventually be incorporated into their digital story.
Students focus on creating, editing, revising, and finalizing their digital stories using video editing software. Through editing workshops, facilitators support students to transform their storyboards and gather media into polished, shareable films.
Get the toolkit here
We’re excited to share this toolkit so other institutions and organizations can adapt, replicate, and build upon this work — and, most importantly, so we can learn from you. (Note: we’ll also send you the Crown Institute's quarterly newsletter.)