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178 | Digital Media and Storytelling in Higher Education expressive, self-identical films through a digital medium. Through group work, a sense of belonging and group identity was strengthened. At the same time, by presenting their own lives, the students were able to directly articulate problems that would have been difficult to bring to the surface due to their minority status. Digital stories, the researchers argued, provide an opportunity for interaction between the helper and the person in need, which also contributes considerably to effective and rapid intervention (Cushing & Love, 2013). The main benefit of DST in this sector is that it connects theoretical knowledge with real-life experiences and the experience of patient interaction (Price et al., 2015; Haigh, 2017). The Silence Speaks program, launched by StoryCenter in 2002, publishes digital stories on gender, public health, and human rights and disseminates the training materials produced for them. The Silence Speaks program aims to bring invisible stories to the surface, particularly to decision-makers and the public (Hill, 2008). The work of Silence Speaks groups is often linked to narrative therapy or art therapy. In most cases, the author publishes his or her video online, and these thematic collections are often included in discussion forums and conferences to encourage social action. DST in healthcare education confronts students with the experiences of patients while also providing an opportunity for students to engage in professional discourse, thus developing their critical thinking and professional self-reflection. DST can also serve as a means of supervision and burnout prevention for caregivers.
