Activity Theory and Digital Storytelling as tools for the development of professional skills in higher education

he exploratory research describes a teaching experience in a Course in Educational Sciences where, in order to stimulate reflection on students' future professional skills, a method involving the use of Activity Theory and Digital Storytelling was experimented. Following the narration of professionale real-life episodes (storytelling), the problem-solving methods adopted by a Community of Practice were analysed through the Activity Theory Model. Subsequently, the analysis were used for the creation of Digital Story-telling while also highlighting the emotional aspects related to the problem solving processes adopted by the Community of Practice. This balancing act between “reason” and “emotion” has stimulated students to objectively recognize the possible best professional practices in systemic critical situations in educa-tional and social contexts. We report some results that emerged from the qualitative-quantitative survey that involved the students at the end of the activities.