1 READ IT - TRAINING TEACHERS TO MAKE READING FUN THROUGH DIGITAL STORYTELLING” Ilaria Mascitti 1 , Barbara Quarta 1 , Stacy Guidera 1 , Michela Tramonti 1 1 Università degli Studi “Guglielmo Marconi” -Telematica (ITALY) i.mascitti@unimarconi.it , b.quarta@unimarconi.it , m.tramonti@unimarconi.it , s.guidera@unimarconi.it ABSTRACT According to the OCED data, the teachers often lack an ICT skill which prevents schools from fully exploiting technology to benefit teaching and learning. In order to keep up the fast-moving technology, teachers need to be trained on how to integrate ICT in the classroom. The READ IT project aims at developing an innovative didactic methodology that integrates traditional teaching strategies with ICT tools to help teachers acquire new skills through video production using digital storytelling techniques to be applied to different subjects, however through book trailer production to promote literature appreciation. The innovative aspect of the READ IT didactic methodology is to combine the technology in terms of digital storytelling and a book trailer development with the standard writing techniques such as narrative and screenplay to reinforce teaching in an interactive, creative and authentic way. The influence of the technology is in changing of the face of learning especially in terms of the new mediums (e.g. Kendal). The concept of integrating of the books with the digital tools can help to evolve and inspire a literature appreciation among the next generation of students. The University of Central Florida designed a model for teachers and students training in how to create a book trailers, resulting in an increase of reading interest levels. Therefore the project sees the potential in the innovative methodology based on digital storytelling techniques for the production of the book trailers, as means to develop and improve teachers’ ICT skills through a new teaching and learning approach. 1 BACKGROUND Despite rapid advance in today’s technology, many educational institutions in Europe are not experimenting with digital tools in a creative or innovative way. As reported in the OECD survey 2009 [1], almost all EU countries report shortfalls in teaching skills and difficulties in updating them. Shortages relates to the lack of competence to deal with new developments in education especially in preparing learners to make the most of ICT. Therefore, teachers need to acquire skills to implement new educational methods combining existing didactic approaches and digital skills and European schools need to adapt to current students needs and identify new learning models that are engaging to younger generations [2].