RP - Interactive/Digital Storytelling

After researching online I came across an interesting article from 2007 by EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative.

The article suggests 7 things you should know about Interactive/Digital Storytelling (IS). It goes on to explain what IS is, and their views and opinions on specifications about IS such as how their scenario will work and who is involved.

Educational uses of IS ?

These 7 points have been taken off The University Of Houston's website, which you can visit HERE

1. Point of View	What is the main point of the story and what is the perspective of the author?
2. A Dramatic Question	A key question that keeps the viewer's attention and will be answered by the end of the story.
3. Emotional Content	Serious issues that come alive in a personal and powerful way and connects the story to the audience.
4. The Gift of Your Voice	A way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context.
5. The Power of the Soundtrack	Music or other sounds that support and embellish the storyline.
6. Economy	Using just enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer.
7. Pacing	The rhythm of the story and how slowly or quickly it progresses.

The use of IS can prove beneficial for the educational system if certain aspects are seriously considered, University of Houston go on to list some elements they believe are key to designing the best educational based IS.

1. The Overall Purpose of the Story	6. Pacing of the Narrative
2. The Narrator’s Point of View	7. Use of a Meaningful Audio Soundtrack
3. A Dramatic Question or Questions	8. Quality of the Images, Video & other Multimedia Elements
4. The Choice of Content	9. Economy of the Story Detail
5. Clarity of Voice	10. Good Grammar and Language Usage

RP - Reading List

E-Learning in the 21st Century, A framework for Research and Practice, D.R. Garrison and Terry Anderson

Garrison and Anderson assess the current revolution of technology that is taking place in education with in the 21st century. The authors convey their views on the potential of E-learning as well as the implications that exist, however the book is based on the understanding of these technologies with in education rather than the specifications of E-learning. Focusing on the cognitive and teaching presence with in e-learning they base their argument on how certain principles of fundamental learning concepts can be used to improve the way we use interactive learning with in education, thus making it a better user experience optimising the potential of the learner.

Understanding Children’s worlds, How Children Think and Learn Second Edition, David Wood

This book written by Wood explores theories, debates and works by physiologists such as Piaget and Vygotsky. The different theories behind the development of education in children by Piaget and Vygotsky are reflected in this book, giving guidance as to what is needed in order for children not only to simply learn but also to engage their attention from their perspective.  Focusing on the implications teachers are faced with when implementing theory of education into practice with in the classrooms - he discusses various ways in which education has been developed over a decade.

Developmental psychology, Cognition in Children, Usha Goswani

The book written by Goswani demonstrates cognitional development in children that have similarities with the adult cognition development. This textbook aims to provide a selective, but representative, review of work in cognitive development, grouped around themes that are familiar from textbooks of adult cognition. The book focuses on the question of what develops, rather than on why it develops. The findings of a given experimental study on what develops are generally fixed, but the interpretation of what particular findings mean and why remains open. Some of the experiments discussed in this book have alternative explanations, which invite you to develop your own
                                                 ideas about what different studies mean.          

RP - Cognitive Psychology

It was crucial for me to research on the cognitive psychological development of primary school children. I started off doing some basic research online to get an over view of what cognitive psychology is.... 

"Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that studies mental processes including how people think, perceive, remember and learn."

visit site

By learning how primary school children actually think, learn and remember would allow me to understand deeper as to watch engages them the most. 

There are many theorist that argue their own processes behind cognitive psychology however whilst researching the two names I came across the most are, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. 

Here are a couple of interesting related links: 

http://www.education.uiowa.edu/html/eportfolio/tep/07p075folder/Piaget_Vygotsky.htm

http://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive.html

http://www.ehow.com/about_5460973_cognitive-psychology-learning.html

RP - Promethean 500 Series ActivBoard

I also came across this new Interactive solution that can be used with in classrooms, a key aspect that stood out was the advantage of having multiple touch sensors, which inevitably encourages group activities.

I decided to read up on what Promethean have to offer and what other advances are available.
It was really interesting to see the home page with quotes from teachers and their opinion on Promethean

www.prometheanworld.com

RP - On my Search...

I came across a very interesting video about an Interactive Whiteboard

RP - E-Learning (Online Learning)

I started reading into E-Learning and it includes all forms of electronically supported learning, meaning ..computer based.and..internet based. It is used for both learning and teaching...content is delivered via the internet, audio or tape etc...

As this is based on a broad type of learning I decided to look into existing examples of E-learning within education as well as leisure... 

RP - Background Research

So, getting started... I decided to conduct online research on interactive devices and in particular the current education schemes within schools to see what they have currently implemented.

On my search I came across this interesting video that touches on the positive points on including interactive devices within school education, and it also reflects on various concerns by teachers and parents...

RP - Research Project

To come up with a research title that would not only be challenging as well as interesting I decided to brainstorm a few ideas that are a current growing trend within web design.
I decided to look at various aspects such as, responsive design, social websites and interactive devices. It was crucial for me to look at a contemporary issue as I believe there would be an opportunity to find 'gaps' which could be filled. By basing my research on interactive devices, it would allow me to research into a market in which interactive devices would prove beneficial.
I started to look into existing platforms that provide a source of interaction.... It was clear to see that the use of mobile phones and tablets have been growing at a rapid rate, and among the users, children where using these devices the most.
This lead me to question, what interactive devices are present within schools at the moment, and to what extent are they being embraced as they can prove beneficial in the development of children's ability to learn.

As well as focusing on interactive devices, I wanted to focus on a particular subject such as English, and see how teaching can be enhanced using interactive devices. I started to research into digital storytelling and how certain aspects that can be provided via digital storytelling that a book can't provide.

Question: 
"What impact has the implementation of interactive learning had on the educational development in primary school children, and how can digital storytelling enhance their skills?"

RP - Research Project

Research Enquiry 

"What impact has interactive reading played in the children’s ability to develop their learning skills?"

...still not sure on what the title is exactly going to be, but something along those lines..

The relevance of this topic is broad as it includes both the ever expanding technological world and it also challenges traditional teaching methods. Whilst researching I came across a quote that made me re-think the amazing advances technology have to offer in which education still has to embrace.  

"Teachers will not be replaced by technology, but teachers who don't use technology will be replaced by those who do."  

[The video with this quote can be found here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzi2RIt8_nk]

The following research all formed a part of my Research Proposal Presentation:

Relevance 

- E-learning and how it has developed in the past 10 years

- Online Learning games such as BBC Bitesize

- Interactive storytelling

-  Educational Games looking at application for tablets and mobile devices

- Children’s psychological cognitive learning

- Development of memory and understanding 

-Interactive learning has already been introduced in schools

(interactive whitboards)

-More children are using online learning/educational games due to the internet expanding to wider audiences in various place

- It is the learning of tomorrow

Sources 

Books on Interactive Learning

‘E-Learning in the 21st Century’ – D.R. Garrison and Terry Anderson

‘Chris Crawford on Interactive Storytelling – Chris Crawford

‘Digital Storytelling a creator’s guide to Interactive Entertainment’

Books on Children’s Cognitive Psychology and Memory

‘Your Memory A user’s guide’ – Alan Baddeley

‘Cognitive Psychology connecting mind, research and everyday experience’ – E.Bruce Goldstein

‘Cognition in Children’ – Usha Goswami

‘How Children Think and Learn’ – David Wood

Reports on Interactive Storytelling

‘Interactive Storytelling, First joint international Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling, ICIDS 2—8 Erfurt, Germany, November 2008, Proceedings’ – Ulrike Spierling Nicolas Szilas (Eds.)