Year two of an interactive fiction unit is coming to a close. Year one is still up and running out of gDrive. This is the fifth time over the past few years that I have had students create interactive stories. The first few times back in the 90’s I used Supercard the past two years I have used Quest found at textadventures.co.uk.
Working in groups of three or four students started collaboratively writing their stories in their ELA class. In my class we started by playing Escape From Byron Bay. After the students completed playing this game each student reconstructed it gaining more experience using Quest. This process began by creating the rooms needed for the game. Once the rooms were created exits from room to room were added. Then objects and media elements such as images, audio and video were then placed. The last step in the reconstruction was scripting the objects making the game interactive. Once this was done the students went back to their original ELA stories and in groups of two, using what they learned, began extending their stories and making them interactive.
We talk a lot about integration of technology. There are times when the curricular limits on a teacher makes it more difficult to spend the time needed to create a project like this. This is why I like the idea of cross-disciplinary integration of technology. The time needed to create the project can be shared. The teachers involved bring their unique abilities and knowledge to the project making it a richer experience for all. Consider this paragraph:
First, students will need to consider the Point of View. How will a player/reader experience the story? Will there be one detective, or a team of detectives, and how will the story unfold? Second (but first in the overall process), students will need to Develop a Dramatic Question: what mystery will be solved in the story and the game? Finally, students will need to develop pleasant Pacing of the story. How quickly will the story unfold? How many clues will be in each location? How many red herrings will exist to lead players/readers astray? These elements require prioritizing, collaboration, and critical thinking skills in order to be effectively put into place. (A Coffey:Who-Digi-dunit? Creating Interactive Fiction Based on Student Writing)
Not very likely that this would have been a major part of my thinking. I tend to focus on things like the image on the right. However, I am also sure that scripting an if statement would not be a part of Andy’s story creating repertoire! But together the kids get both!!
We will soon have the stories completed and put it out in a public space stay tuned!
This is part of Chapter Three of our class iBook containing the assignment in ibook format (stories.ibook.zip).
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