The Future of Fiction

Creating an interactive book using iBook Author, Makey Makey and Scratch.

In January, I wrote a post about a unit I was planning that would explore the Future of Fiction with my Year 7s.

We have just come to the end of this great unit, and the work they have produced is amazing.

Creating a story to record on iMotion

This post outlines what we did and what the learners achieved. It also links to the learning site that I built to deliver this unit, which was successful in teaching not only story elements, storyboarding, drafting and creating, but also problem solving and critical thinking.

Our aim was to try to re-tell a story using a technological tool, to see if we think technology can help tell a story. Ultimately, we were trying to decide where we think the future of fiction might be going.

We began by learning about the elements of stories and then used the classic book Where the Wild Things Are to learn about the story mountain as well as plot, character, setting and theme.

Learners had to think about how to retell the story using a storyboard with only eight spaces - meaning they had to concentrate on what was important in order to communicate the story's plot and theme. This helped them really think about how to introduce their story and characters, how to build tension, and how to offer a satisfying resolution.

Creating an interactive book using Makey Makey and Scratch

We then moved on to deciding on a story to retell and a tool to use to do it.

Initially, my idea had been to use one story to focus on the technology not the story. However, as my lessons adapt organically according the needs of the learners (see my post The Book Whisperer) this was discussed and changed.

The learners decided to use their own choice of story, as they all had different ideas and could not agree on one.

I did impose a limit of two people per technological tool in order to allow a spread to be explored (there was much fraught signing up to gain that coveted Minecraft spot). Again though, these were changed along the process according the needs and skills of the learners.

Using iMotion to retell The Very Hungry Caterpillar

As per my previous conversations with the Tech Integrators, I and gave them lots of choices about potential tools to explore before deciding on a final choice.

The learners spent the next two weeks storyboarding, drafting, scripting, painting, crafting, coding, drawing, writing, filming, photographing, creating...

Today, we began to showcase their work. They will look at all the final products and then complete an evaluation.

The Three Little Pigs using iMotion

We ended up with stories re-told using:
- iMotion,
- Inklewriter,
- Book Creator for iBooks,
- Powerpoint,
- iBooks Author,
- iMovie, - MinecraftEdu, and
- Makey Makey and Scratch.

Finally, they will reflect on their learning and write about what skills they have developed, what they think they have learned, what they'd like to improve upon, and what they are proud of.

Creating dough characters for The Girl Who Cried Wolf

At the bottom of this post, there is a video of one of the final products.

Watch the Three Little Pigs interactive book in action -  

created using iBooks Author, Makey Makey and Scratch.

Visit the SHOWCASE for more!

We also incorporated Reading Circles into this unit, to encourage more reading. This tied in with the Red Dot Awards Singapore 2014. The whole learning site I built, can be found HERE.