To introduce the artist a photo of him was put up so that everyone knew who he was and what he was doing, so he had a good welcome from the start.
He first introduced a simple game to get the children used to the webcam. They played with images of themselves and put pig noses and hats etc onto their faces using the accessory programmes on the web-cam.
The older group would sustain this for about an hour really enjoying choosing the accessories etc. They were taking turns and practiced holding their heads still until the webcam found them. They also found out that if you close your eyes the webcam leaps to someone else.
They were soon ready to get into the story making stuff, with about six children working with the artist at a time – three strong users of the technology and three watching.
The children began making up stories in pairs or small groups.
They took on roles so they could work together.
‘Can I be a cameraman?’ ‘We’re doing cartoons’
Their stories were captured using ‘2-simple’ software that uses a simple format for their words and images.
Resources:
• web-cam • ‘2simple’ software • computer or laptop • toys found in the setting
Ideas for further exploration...
• the babies really interacted with the game of changing their faces on the web-cam, and enjoyed exploring their own faces on the screen
• the camera can be used with the babies as a way of documenting ‘in the moment’
• with this technology, the children can make their own comic book stories that can be printed and remain in the nursery to be read over time and developed as an ongoing project
• using boxes to make scenes for the stories
Step 3
Over three sessions, there have been groups of boys making stories.
Often these boys play physical ‘fighting’ games and play out characters from TV and films. It is worth noting that all of the comic book stories that they made, even when in groups were their own creations. The boys invented their own characters inspired by the props they found around the nursery.
There was sometimes a fight scene in the story but it was always resolved in the story by the children.
Through the story telling, the boys could act out their own responses to situations they created. They were totally in control, and they were able to practice compromise. Boys worked together and didn’t fight for two hours non-stop in a morning session. Their conflict and aggression went into the story.