Theoretical perspectives on DS

While considering digital storytelling from different perspectives, I often came upon the concepts of sociocultural theory and constructivism in articles. However, when I tried to categorize studies in these perspectives to compare the approaches, I got confused.

The two approaches in consideration here can be separated for the purpose of analysis. However, researchers actually draw on multiple theories for conceptual framework, and the same practice, research design or finding can be addressed from different views. To draw a clear- cut divide between social-cultural theory and constructivism in practice is almost impossible because even the original theories lend themselves to each other. Vygotsky’s propositions have been seminal and fundamental to both socio-cultural and constructivist approaches to learning. It would be more sensible to consider what the research questions in each study are and how the theories are incorporated in the investigating to find the answers to the questions before a study can be considered as to be more socio-cultural or constructivist-inclined.