FALL2025: Digital Storytellers
Bookmark this page as you will return to it throughout the semester.
Assignment Overview:
Help bring aging services to life through short-form video (Digital Story) content that educates, inspires, and connects with the community. Activities may include interviewing past and current clients, program staff, funded partners, and others; writing short stories; and creating innovative short-form video content for social media use.
GOAL 1: Explore the Role of Storytelling in Aging Services
Understand how personal stories and visual media can raise awareness and build empathy around aging-related issues.
GOAL 2: Develop Communication and Media Production Skills
Gain hands-on experience in interviewing, writing, and creating short-form video content for public outreach.
GOAL 3: Connect Academic Knowledge to Real-World Messaging
Apply concepts from Gerontology or Health Sciences to craft messages that educate and engage the public.
GOAL 4: Strengthen Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
Learn to represent diverse voices and experiences in aging with respect and authenticity.
ASSIGNMENTS
Student Instructions: DUE: SATURDAY, November 1, 2025
Pre-Assignment reflection questions
These reflection questions designed to help you think critically about your service-learning experience. These questions are meant to support your learning by helping you connect what you observe and do with your academic studies and future career goals.
Before you begin answering the questions below, take a moment to consider how this experience might connect to your academic studies and future career. Your responses will help you reflect on your starting point and prepare you to make the most of your time supporting aging services. Thoughtful reflection now will make it easier to recognize your growth and articulate what you’ve learned when you revisit these questions later.
Before you begin your volunteer assignment, please complete the following steps:
Step 1: Create a New Word Document
- Open a new Word document.
- At the top of the document, include the following information:
- Your Full Name
- Assignment Title (e.g., Digital Storytellers)
- Class Title (e.g., Gerontology 103)
- Professor Name
- Date You Are Completing These Questions
Step 2: Answer the Pre-Assignment Questions
Reflect thoughtfully and write your responses to the following questions in complete sentences:
- What do you currently know about the role of storytelling and media in public health or aging services?
- What skills or experiences do you hope to gain from creating video content and interviewing others?
- How do you think short-form video can influence public understanding of aging-related issues?
- What personal strengths or interests do you bring to this creative assignment?
If you prefer, you can download the details of this assignment as a pdf here.
When you’re done, save your document with LastName_FirstName_PreAssigment to the desktop. Email your completed document to: volunteer@agencyonaging4.org. You will revisit these questions after your assignment is complete.
CONTENT PLAN
Also due on November 1 is a short outline of your Content Creation Plan. Please include a rough outline of how you are structuring your content (like you would outline a paper before writing it), what social channel(s) you are creating for, and any visuals you are planning to use. On this page is a Content Creation Guide you can refer to (see RESOURCES section).
When you’re done, save your document with LastName_FirstName_PreAssigment to the desktop. Email your completed document to: volunteer@agencyonaging4.org. You will revisit these questions after your assignment is complete.
Your Digital Story is due Tuesday, December 2.
Your final Digital Story should be:
- 3 minutes of content- you can use this time however you like, whether it be one 3-minute video, or multiple, shorter pieces of social media content. Maybe you want to divide your topic into sections? Maybe you want to talk about three different aspects of a complex or broad subject? Or maybe you want to deep dive into one topic. Your choice!
- Formatted for either TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram. See RESOURCES section for best practices and other helpful tips.
- Include a photo release, if applicable. If you use a video, voice, or image of a person- you must have them sign a photo release form and turn that in with your final product. See RESOURCES section to download and print.
Feel free to be as creative as you want to be! Your Digital Story should inspire, connect, or educate—but how you do that is up to you!
- You can use Canva to create infographics, slides, or other visuals and string them together into an educational video.
- You can shoot and edit video using your phone, add text and music, to tell a compelling story.
- You can interview someone, record the audio with your phone and overlay their words over a slideshow of photos of them.
- These are all just ideas; feel free to think outside the box! Just make sure you outline your idea in your content plan.
Your Digital Story (including any photo releases) is due Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Email it to volunteer@agencyonaging4.org or share via Google Drive. Depending on how big your final digital file is, we can work together on delivery method—as long as it's received by the due date. If you're worried about whether or not you can send it via email, reach out to me BEFORE THE DUE DATE!
In addition to your final Digital Story project, you are also required to provide a summarized peer review of everyone else's work. Please email volunteer@agencyonaging4.org with the Reflection questions and peer reviews all together in one email, no later than Tuesday, December 9.
On December 3, I will upload everyone's Digital Stories to the website for peer review. After you watch each other's final assignments, you will submit a peer review of each other's work. Feel free to use these questions to get you started. Each of you will review 2 presentations.
Peer Review Prompts
- What is one thing you learned from one of your peer’s presentation that you didn’t know before?
- Which presentation did you feel was most engaging or well-explained?
Student Instructions: Post-Assignment
DUE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025
In addition to your final Digital Story project, you are also required to answer the reflection questions. Please email volunteer@agencyonaging4.org with the Reflection questions and peer review documents all together in one email, no later than Tuesday, December 9.
Now that you’ve completed your volunteer experience, you’ll reflect on what you learned and how it connects to your academic and career goals.
Please follow the same steps:
- Open a new Word document.
- Include your name, assignment title, class title, and date.
- Answer the post-assignment questions thoughtfully.
- Save as LastName_FirstName_PostAssigment.
- Email both documents to yourself for your records and future reference.
Post-Assignment Questions
- What did you learn about the impact of storytelling and media in aging services?
- Describe a moment or story that stood out to you during your interviews or content creation. Why was it meaningful?
- How did this experience help you improve your communication, writing, or media production skills?
- What challenges did you face in representing aging-related topics, and how did you address them?
- How has this experience influenced your perspective on aging and your interest in advocacy or public education?
If you prefer, you can download the details of this assignment as a pdf here.
TIMELINE & DUE DATES
| 10/21/2025 | 10:00AM - 11:00AM ---- Team Meeting to meet each other, assign topics, ask questions (Zoom room opens at 9am for those who can't meet at 10, anyone is welcome) |
|---|---|
| 11/1/2025 | DUE: Email Pre-Assignment Reflection Questions & Content Plan |
| 11/11/2025 | 9:00AM - 10:00AM ----Open Office Hours (questions, feedback, support) |
| 12/1/2025 | 10:30AM - 12:00PM Open Office Hours (questions, feedback, support) |
| 12/2/2025 | DUE: Digital Story (Social Media Project ) |
| 12/3/2025 | All Digital Stories uploaded to website for Peer Reviews |
| 12/9/2025 | DUE: Assignment Reflection Questions & Peer Reviews (see above) |
DIGITAL STORIES FOR PEER REVIEWS
RESOURCES
Digital Storytellers-Multimedia Content Planning Guide.pdfRELEASE FORM FOR PHOTOGRAPH & VIDEO.pdf2024 Agency on Aging_Brand_Guide-compressed.pdfZOOM LINK FOR ALL MEETINGS
We'll use this Zoom link for all group meetings and one-on-one chats.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85716287484?pwd=ZMXXAnIGPR2hHwcWstLmEQlNQgnXra.1
SUGGESTED TOPICS
You are more than welcome to propose your own topic but you can also take on any of the below unassigned topics.
TOPIC 1: Understanding ADRCs and the No Wrong Door Approach
STUDENT: Maria Jennifer
Many people don’t know where to begin when seeking help with aging-related needs. That’s where Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) come in. They’re designed to simplify access to services using a No Wrong Door approach—meaning no matter where someone starts, they’ll be guided to the right support. Ideas include: interview a case manager to learn how they help clients navigate services (ask the volunteer coordinator to help set up a Zoom or phone interview). Create an infographic or short video explaining how the No Wrong Door system works and why it matters.
TOPIC 2: Why is the holiday season more difficult for older adults?
STUDENT: Michelle
The holiday season is harder for older adults due to isolation, grief from loss of loved ones, and reduced mobility or physical limitations that make participating in traditions difficult. They may also face financial strain from holiday expenses and feel overwhelmed by the busy, fast-paced nature of holiday celebrations. Explore this, give reasons, and offer tips on how to make the season brighter for them. Ideas include: interview an elder in your family, dig into common reasons, offer tips.
TOPIC 3: Shining a Light on Caregiving
STUDENT: Palvir
Caregivers face unique challenges—emotional, physical, and financial—that often go unseen. Creating content that highlights their experiences helps raise awareness and build empathy. Students can share bite-sized tips for family caregivers (e.g., “3 ways to prevent burnout”) or interview a caregiver to explore how caregiving impacts daily life, relationships, and well-being. These stories can help others feel seen, supported, and more informed about the realities of caregiving.
TOPIC 4: Cultural Perspectives on Aging
STUDENT: Gina
Aging looks different for everyone, and culture plays a big role in shaping that experience. Some cultures honor elders as wisdom keepers, while others emphasize youthfulness or celebrate aging through unique traditions. By exploring how different communities care for older adults, celebrate aging, or pass down traditions, we promote inclusion and highlight the rich diversity among older adults. Sharing stories, recipes, customs, and memories from a variety of backgrounds helps build connection across generations and shows cultural sensitivity in the agency’s work.
TOPIC 5: Meals on Wheels spotlight
STUDENT: Samaa
Spend time with a volunteer delivery driver in Yuba or Sutter County to see what a typical day looks like. This kind of content helps build empathy and understanding by showing the real-life work that goes into supporting older adults. It also humanizes the people behind the services—volunteers and staff—and makes the agency’s impact more relatable and tangible for the community.
TOPIC 6: Myth vs. Facts about Aging
STUDENT: Cassidy
Many people hold outdated or inaccurate beliefs about aging—like the idea that older adults don’t use technology. Creating content that challenges these myths helps educate the public, reduce stigma, and position the agency as a trusted source of information. Ideas include: create a short video or graphic that busts a common myth about aging. Use facts from reputable sources (like the CDC, AARP, or National Council on Aging). Explain the facts in simple, clear language so they’re easy to understand and share.
TOPIC 7: Celebrating Elderhood
STUDENT: Alejanae
Invite older adults to share what makes them feel valued, supported, or connected to their community. This kind of reflective activity encourages viewers to think about their own role in supporting elders and helps build empathy across generations. Turn these reflections into a short video series or graphic campaign that celebrates aging and community in a meaningful way.
TOPIC 8: Aging in Place: What does it really mean?
STUDENT: Marilena
Many older adults want to stay in their homes as they age—but what does that look like in real life? Aging in place can involve home modifications, support services, and community connections. Ideas include: interview a client or caregiver about what helps them stay independent at home. Create a short explainer video or graphic showing how local programs support aging in place (e.g., home-delivered meals, transportation, fall prevention).
TOPIC 9: Understanding Local Aging Services
STUDENT: _______________________________________
Navigating aging services can be confusing—especially when you're not sure where to start. Agency on Aging Area 4 helps older adults and caregivers across seven counties by coordinating a wide range of programs, from Meals on Wheels and transportation to case management and caregiver support. Ideas include: Create a short explainer video or graphic that introduces key services offered by Agency on Aging Area 4. Interview a staff member to describe their role in plain language (contact Volunteer Coordinator to set up an interview). Use visuals to show how different programs work together to support aging in place and promote independence.
REPUTABLE RESEARCH SOURCES:
There are plenty more but here are a few to get you started.
- National Council on Aging (NCOA)
- AARP
- Administration for Community Living (ACL)
- California Department of Aging (CDA)
- National Institute on Aging
We’re here to support you!
If you have any questions about the assignment, the reflection process, or anything related to your volunteer experience, please don’t hesitate to email volunteer@agencyonaging4.org.
Good luck this semester—we’re excited to have you involved and look forward to seeing what you learn and contribute!