<h3id="thesis-description">Fair leads or Fair winds is a saying sailors and knotters use to greet each other. It comes from the working end of a string that will soon be forming a knot.</h3>
<p>
<p>I would like to clarify and introduce some terms for you in order to
read this text in the desired way. For a while, we will stay in the
### Fair leads or Fair winds is a saying sailors and knotters use to greet each other. It comes from the working end of a string that will soon be forming a knot.
### Thesis Description
<p>
I would like to clarify and introduce some terms for you in order to read this text in the desired
way. For a while, we will stay in the bight of this journey as we move into forming loops, theories
and ideas on how interactive picture books can be used to foster curiosity for reading and creativity
for children. I am building a web platform called Wink that aims to contain a children’s story I
wrote and am making into an interactive experience, in relation to my research.
<br>
Through this bight of the thesis, I feel the necessity to clarify my intention of using knots as a
“thinking and writing object” throughout my research journey. Although knots are physical objects
and technically crucial in many fi elds of labor and life, they are also objects of thought and
@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ author: Stephen
the invention of fl ying -which required a wing that was supported using certain types of knotswas
initiated with the knowledge of how to use strings to make things, why wouldn’t a research
paper make use of this wonderful art as an inspiration for writing and interactive reading?
<br>
KNOTS AS OBJECTS TO THINK WITH
## KNOTS AS OBJECTS TO THINK WITH
There is a delicate complexity of thinking of and with knots, which ignites layers of simultaneous
connections to one’s specifi c experience; where one person may associate the knots with struggles
they face, another may think of connecting or thriving times. In a workshop in Rotterdam, I
@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ author: Stephen
were variations of connection, binding, bridge and support. Keeping these answers in mind or by
coming up with your words on knots and embodying them in the practice of reading would make
a diff erence in how you understand the same text.
<br>
Seeing how these words, interpretations of a physical object were so diff erent to each other was
transcendental. In this thesis, I am excited to share my understanding of knots with you. My three
words for knots are resistance, imagination and infi nity. Keeping these in mind, I experimented
with certain reading modes as you will see later on.
<br>
Knots are known to be used 15 to 17 thousand years ago for multiple purposes. These purposes
were often opposing each other. For example, it could be used to let something loose or to restrain
it; for pleasure or pain; for going high above or down below… I believe this diversity of uses can
@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ author: Stephen
chaos where someone else might see it as a helpful mark. Essentially, this diversity is what got
me interested in knots years ago and since then, I have found ways to implement this “loop of
thought” in my daily life and research methods.
<br>
There are two main reasons to why I chose to write this essay in a “knotted” format. One is that I
would like to share my process and progress of research on this project and this involves “thinking
with an object”, in this case types of knots. In Evocative Objects, Sherry Turkle, who is a sociologist
@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ author: Stephen
(which is not in knots’ nature since they are mainly practiced in solo) and playful element in
writing. This is also why I would like to take a moment to mention what happens to the interplay
of processes in which we call thought when we think with knots in specific.
<br>
For Turkle and Seymour Papert, who is a mathematician, computer scientist and educator that
did remarkable research on constructivism, being able to make a reading experience tangible, or
even physically representable makes the process of thought more concrete. Concrete thinking in
@ -65,9 +65,8 @@ author: Stephen
This way it’s easier to compartmentalize or attribute certain parts of a text to an imagined or real
physical item which makes the mind at ease with complex chains of thought.
Imagine you are reading a story… What if you think of the string itself as the journey and the
slip knot (which is a type of stopper knot) as a representation of an antagonist because of its specific
use in hunting, would this change your approach to reading this story? I believe so…
<br>
slip knot (which is a type of stopper knot) as a representation of an antagonist because of its specific use in hunting, would this change your approach to reading this story? I believe so…
What if instead of a slip knot a Bowline was on the string, would that represent something else in
the story because of its usage in practice. A Bowline is commonly used to form a fi xed loop at the
end of a string; it’s strong but easy to tie, untie. Due to these qualities, we can imagine the bowline
@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ author: Stephen
because of their versatile purposes and the narrative vocabulary they create. Topologists are
still trying to identify seemingly infi nite numbers of combinations which we simply call “knots”
and I see this as an inspiration to keep writing.
<br>
One example of the wondrous versatility and potential of knots is how they are used to archive
and encrypt information. Incan people from the Andes region recorded information on Quipus,
dating back to 700 CE. Quipus are textile devices consisting of several rows of cotton and/or
@ -90,8 +89,9 @@ author: Stephen
trying to symbolize the twists, decisions and practices throughout this year with knots of my
choosing. I was inspired by Nayeli Vega’s question, “What can a knot become and what can become
a knot?”
<br>
WEAVING INTO THE TEXT
## WEAVING INTO THE TEXT
This thesis expects participation from its reader. You have the option to have a mode of reading,
where you will be guided by strings to start reading from a certain section according to the type of
reader you are and read the loops one by one until the end, weaving through the text. To determine
@ -100,48 +100,44 @@ author: Stephen
with the yes or no map in the upcoming pages, you will continue the reading journey through the
strings of diff erent colors that will get you through the text. This way, the linear text will become
in a way, non-linear by your personal experience.
Bear in mind that you can choose to read this thesis from beginning to end as a single string too if
you wish so.
<br>
Combine mode of reading is for readers who are more interested in the journey and the connections
between process and result. Slide mode of reading is for more laid back readers who
aren’t looking to connect ideas but are more focused on the motivation and purpose of the
project. Build readers are detail oriented and academic readers who would prefer a “traditional”
lead to reading.
<br>
Alongside the different strings to follow the text, there will be little drawings in the margins as seen
above, which will have diff erent representations like in a Quipu. Certain knots represent the experiences
that raise interesting opportunities for research and distinct events I went through while making
the project and underneath the drawing you can fi nd the relation to the knot itself explained.
Alongside the different strings to follow the text, there will be little drawings in the margins as seen above, which will have diff erent representations like in a Quipu. Certain knots represent the experiences that raise interesting opportunities for research and distinct events I went through while making the project and underneath the drawing you can fi nd the relation to the knot itself explained.
For example if I couldn’t manage to do something I planned to do, this will be represented with a
broken knot. Bend knots which are used to connect two strings, will be representing the relation between
theories and my ownexperiences/motivations. Hitches which are knots that are formed around a
solid object, such as a spar, post, or ring will be representing the evidence or data I have collected on
the subject. We move on now with the working end and make some loops!
<br>
broken knot. Bend knots which are used to connect two strings, will be representing the relation between theories and my ownexperiences/motivations. Hitches which are knots that are formed around a
solid object, such as a spar, post, or ring will be representing the evidence or data I have collected on the subject. We move on now with the working end and make some loops!
This map will reveal your mode of reading. The order of reading will be indicated with a loop sign
Please hold a string in your hand as you read the text and make knots or loops as you weave through the
reading as an exercise for concrete thinking. See you at the standing end!
and a number on top of the sign with a color. This is the numeric order you can follow to read the thesis.
Working End
## Working End
### Why am I doing this?
Why am I doing this?
<br>
My desire to write a children’s book about grief and memory ignited when I was studying in college
and doing an internship in a publishing house in Ankara. I was struggling to process a loss I
experienced at the time and to fi nd something to cling to on a daily basis. Then one day I started
hearing a buzzing sound in my bedroom at my family’s house. I searched everywhere but couldn’t
fi nd the source for this noise. I asked my father and he started searching too. A couple of days
passed and the buzzing was still there.
<br>
One day I found a bee on the fl oor in my bedroom and realized that the bees nested on the roof
and were coming inside my room through a gap in the lamp. I was terrifi ed because I have an
allergy to bees and thought they might sting me in my sleep. This moment was when I realized I
was so determined to fi nd this buzzing sound for some time that I forgot about dealing with the
loss I was experiencing. This made me feel very guilty and I remember thinking I betrayed the
person I lost.
<br>
As funny as it may appear, I felt like I was sabotaged by these bees that I thought were here to
hurt me but in the end they made me understand that its ok to let things go and every being does
what it has to do to fi nd its way of survival. The little habitat that they chose to create in my room
@ -151,35 +147,35 @@ author: Stephen
read Alan Watts, Alan Lightman, Emily Dickinson, Maurice Sendak, Meghan O’Rourke, Oliver
Sacks, Joanna Macy, Rilke, Montaigne and theories on order in chaos, correlative vision, harmony
of contained confl icts and the mortality paradox. I wrote a lot and erased a lot and fairly
figured out the wisdom of not knowing things.
<br>
figured out the wisdom of not knowing things.
Years passed and I wrote and deleted and rewrote the story that I am working on to make interactive
today so many times and was waiting on it because it always felt incomplete. In a way it
will always be incomplete because of the natural ambiguity the topic carries. Years later, grief was
back in my life with the loss of my grandfather. So therefore, the story I wrote and abandoned
changed again as I attempted to rewrite it as a diff erent version of myself with a diff erent understanding
of death. And this went on… The story remained hidden and I forgot why it ever existed
changed again as I attempted to rewrite it as a diff erent version of myself with a diff erent understanding of death. And this went on… The story remained hidden and I forgot why it ever existed
in the fi rst place.
<br>
Last year when two earthquakes hit Syria and Turkey, I was drowned like everyone I know, by a
collective trauma and grief. Then this horrible feeling fl ared up by neglect and desperation. It was
and still is impossible to mourn so many strangers at the same time. I lost two dear friends, I was
furious, away from home, mostly alone and remembered vividly my failed attempt to understand
or place grief in one of the piles in my mind.
<br>
Previous months, I was working on this story (yes, again) but didn’t know how to tackle the text
because it was so diff erent to what I was experiencing now, when compared to the last time I rewrote
it. A tutor asked me why I wrote this story in the fi rst place and I couldn’t remember. I kept
tracing back to 2016 and step by step, remembered why, as told above. The consciousness that this
story is actually a personal history of how I went through grief in diff erent stages of my life, made
me realise that it doesn’t have to be or even can be a perfect story.
<br>
In the end with the experience I had with loss, I believe the story turned out to be an ode to
remembering or might I say an ode to not being able to forget or an ode to the fear of forgetting
<br>
Loop 2
### Loop 2
The effect of storytelling knowledge on kids’ development and creativity. What can
we learn from open ended and multiple ending stories?
ability to form basic stories or to express their emotions through fi ctional characters or events.
Children are not born with a wide vocabulary of emotions and expressions. They learn how to
read, mimic and express their feelings over time. The more children read, write and are exposed
@ -189,7 +185,7 @@ author: Stephen
to understand and value feelings through conversation (Dettore, 2002). When children are off ered
to read or share stories, they also learn to understand people around them better and gain emotional
literacy.
<br>
Storytelling has been a means of communicating with others for many centuries. It is not only
a way to discuss important events, but also a way to entertain one another (Lawrence & Paige,
2013). Stories have been told orally, in writing or with drawings for thousands of years and some
@ -199,7 +195,7 @@ author: Stephen
stories and this ignites the imagination. We tend to forget many things but almost everyone remembers
one small story they heard or read when they were a kid, this moment we remember is
the moment a certain story sparked for us.
<br>
Nowadays storytelling takes many forms. For example, some readers’ story might even begin from
here although it isn’t the beginning. Interactivity is one of the storytelling forms that can signifi -
cantly improve children’s creativity. This is mainly because children as readers or listeners get to
@ -212,7 +208,7 @@ author: Stephen
world (Ryan, 2009). When we are set to create or co-create a world, the narrative has eff ects
on us such as curiosity, suspense and surprise. At this point, we start creatively producing ideas to
keep these three emotions.
<br>
Interactive storytelling reminds everyone but especially children that there are limitless endings to
a story that is solely up to the maker’s creation. Learning to think this way instead of knowing or
assuming an end to a story, I think infl uences the children’s decision making abilities and sense of
@ -223,10 +219,9 @@ author: Stephen
character in a story, they feel responsible and curious to see it through to the end or decide what
to do with it. This interactivity therefore creates a unique bond between the reader/writer and
the text.
<br>
There are many theories on how to approach interactive literature for children. Multi-literacy theory
and digital literacies are some of the theories which I fi nd relevant to my aim with Wink. Multiliteracy
theory in a nutshell is an education oriented framework that aims to expand traditional
and digital literacies are some of the theories which I fi nd relevant to my aim with Wink. Multiliteracy theory in a nutshell is an education oriented framework that aims to expand traditional
reading and writing skills. This theory was developed by the New London Group. They were a
collective of scholars and educators who addressed the changing nature of literacy in an increasingly
globalized, digital world. The theory explores multiple modes of communication consisting
@ -237,20 +232,22 @@ author: Stephen
of a diverse range of literacies and its departure from traditional approaches to literary texts. This
theory includes new media and communication studies such as visual, digital, special and gestural
literacies.
<br>
I kept this theory in mind as I chose the interactivity elements to use in the picture book. I think
the usage of multiple media such as sound, image and games is a good way to start and diff erentiate
from a regular interactive e-book. The fact that this theory has an educational perspective and
is taking the rapidly changing qualities of literature seriously, made me consider it as a guide in
designing the prototype.
<br>
Looking through the perspective of multiliteracies, questions come up for me that lead to the
rest of this thesis: What is an interactive picture book? Is it a book? Is it a game? Is it an exercise?
What is it defi ned as? How can we design an interactive reading environment without confusing
What is it defined as? How can we design an interactive reading environment without confusing
children?
<br>
Loop 3
### Loop 3
Diff erences and similarities between interactive e-books and storytelling games
Storytelling games and interactive e-books have many things in common. To begin with, they
both centralize the narrative to engage the audience. While both of these formats are storytelling
tools, e-books tend to stay more in a linear narrative and format when compared to storytelling
@ -260,10 +257,11 @@ author: Stephen
storytelling games are complicated and puzzle driven where the player has missions to complete.
Whereas in an interactive e-book, the missions are solely based on the interactive elements implemented
in the text and images.
Another diff erence is that the visual world in an interactive e-book is less cinematic and has limited
movement. The imagery plays a massive role in a storytelling game where the world created is
off ered to the player. In an interactive e-book, the text itself is designed to be playful and ready for
readers to discover.
off ered to the player. In an interactive e-book, the text itself is designed to be playful and ready for readers to discover.
The main diff erence in my opinion that separates these two methods of storytelling is the reward.
In a game, we expect to be rewarded by a victory, passing a level or unlocking something throughout
the experience. In an interactive e-book, we work with the story and in return we expect a
@ -271,9 +269,10 @@ author: Stephen
involves aspects of a game where the reader –not the player- is captured by surprise eff ects or
elements that come up on the pages. This ignites curiosity but not ambition, which is a good start
to foster the love for reading.
<br>
Loop 4
### Loop 4
Ways of using interactivity in digital platforms
CASA theory, also known as the Cognitive-Aff ective-Social Theory of Learning and Development,
is a framework used in educational psychology to understand how learning occurs within
the context of cognitive, aff ective, and social factors. Research on cognitive learning with keeping
@ -282,11 +281,12 @@ author: Stephen
children get bored very easily and can be disengaged because of failure of solving/understanding
something in a story. This is something I kept in mind as I wrote for children and chose
the interactive elements in the story.
<br>
Finding the balance between making the interactive element surprising and making it easy to
interact with is the key to designing for kids in this scenario. We don’t want to make them struggle
and use the limited attention span in a non-engaging way but we want to keep the reading interesting
enough so they want to continue.
Digging deeper into how to do this, I found Children Computer Interaction (CCI) study very
useful. This study examines how children of diff erent ages and developmental stages interact with
digital devices and how these interactions can support their growth. This made me think about
@ -295,56 +295,64 @@ author: Stephen
to children its better to start easy and clear when they try it. Through this I think the best easy
interaction is the tap or click for children. It is easy to do, instinctive and common. So I decided to
base the interactive elements on click animations.
There are multiple ways to use digital gestures in storytelling to make the experience more intriguing.
These are usually elements such as sound, animations, voice-overs that are ignited with a
click or tap by the reader. For children younger than 5, its usually just tapping over the page and
experiencing an action-reaction. For older kids between the ages 6-8, I made some workshops to
fi gure out which types of interactive elements are most useful in engaging them in the reading
process.
It is true that sound and animations are very inclusive and it is engaging for kids to fi nd out which
part of a page is interactive by clicking on images. Another thing I found out is that kids enjoy
being a part of the story. For the prototype of Bee Within (the story I am using to test interactivity
also can be read in the appendix) I will focus on color, sound and click based animations according
to the results of my research.
Loop 5
### Loop 5
What is the target age group for the designated prototype and why?
It is tricky when it comes to choosing the right age spectrum for children’s interactive literature.
Children between the ages 3-5, referred to as preschoolers have more developed social skills and
day by day increasing interest in play. They can take on roles in imaginative play scenarios. They
can also share and take turns more, listen and think about rules of a game. They can form friendships
and connections easily.
School age children are between the ages 6-12, which is Wink’s chosen age group is a little diff erent.
These kids can form more rooted friendships and engage in more complex narratives. They
learn to negotiate and compromise around this time as well. This age group is desired for Wink
because kids this age are open to creative problem solving, connecting events and comprehending
slightly more complex narratives. Moreover, this age group would benefi t the most from the interactive
stories and the reading process because of the developmental phase they are in.
The average amount of time children between these ages use on a daily basis is depending on
their parents and circumstances. But to be fair, it is often not less than 2 hours. If a child isn’t very
interested in spending these hours reading a book, why not ask them: “Would you like to be a part
their parents and circumstances. But to be fair, it is often not less than 2 hours. If a child isn’t very interested in spending these hours reading a book, why not ask them: “Would you like to be a part
of a story?”
Today, kids from age 3 can use digital gestures successfully and experience these as simple as
fl ipping the page of a book. This is why it is fairly easy to create an interactive picture book which
kids can navigate themselves and be able to browse through with or without their parents. But for
Wink, I chose to design for older kids because I want to experiment on multi-leveled narratives
and I want to avoid the risk of confusing children.
<br>
Loop 6
### Loop 6
Limits of interactivity in narratives for children and why do we have less modes of
reading and writing for children?
Although there are many upsides of creating digital environments for children due to their advanced
skills in technology from early ages, there are also risks involved in this where the kid can
be overwhelmed and confused due to the autonomy they receive. Reading a story is supposed to
be eff ortless and a good free time activity but with interactive picture books, it is slightly more
than that and more complicated as an experience.
First of all, with the story at hand, called Bee Within, there are two other stories in one. Although
the main story is about a little girl’s journey, kids get the chance to hear the Queen Bee’s story and
the tree’s story as well. This is not a must but if they interact with certain pictures on the page,
they will be led to the bee’s perspective or the trees. This is where the storyline can get a little bit
complicated for younger kids. The child reader at this point should be able to follow the main
they will be led to the bee’s perspective or the trees. This is where the storyline can get a little bit complicated for younger kids. The child reader at this point should be able to follow the main
storyline after visiting the side quests or stories presented in the interactive book. To create this
balance I tried to limit the interactive elements I used in the main story. I tried to keep the picture
animations limited and focused more on the storylines.
Another aspect I am concerned about after the workshop I did with the kids, is the risk of confusion
due to an undefi ned and multimodal design for a “book”. Kids tend to be confused when
they can’t defi ne things or are asked to improvise without knowing the purpose.They know what a
@ -354,7 +362,8 @@ author: Stephen
are exposed to daily because they are always in a process of active learning. So one more thing to
learn might come as exhausting. Therefore, in designing, I want to make interactions as clear as
possible for them.
Loop 7
### Loop 7
Interactive reading and writing examples and surveys done with kids
As an improvisation theater enthusiast myself, I tried to engage the kids with the story through
some exercises and games during the workshops. My aim was to see how involved they want to
@ -363,24 +372,25 @@ author: Stephen
you are acting with and you are designated to be creative in your own way. I tried to use several
improv games and warmups to involve the kids in the story more and see how they see certain
characters from the picture book.
My first attempt was to make a survey at the end of workshops with kids to whether they liked it
or not, but when I researched further, surveying with kids has very diff erent methods and complications.
Most kids either really like or really dislike things. Finding the in between emotions with a survey,
ends up being vague. Most surveys done with kids use emoticons as representation of a good or
bad or average time. Instead, I chose to observe the environment and understand how much empathy
kids can off er in an interactive reading or playing environment.
Loop 8
### Loop 8
What does the joy of destruction and the awe eff ect have to do with interactivity?
Indeed, why did we ever start playing games? The most important aspect of a game for me is that
it surprises you and leaves you in awe towards something you weren’t expecting happened. I feel
like every reaction I give when I’m surprised, is a mirror of what I felt when I was playing freeze
and had to stop moving at any given time or when I found the last friend hiding somewhere in
hide and seek. This feeling of appreciation and unexpectedness is why most people remember
certain games, movies from their childhoods very vividly. Its an introduction to a feeling we experience
maybe for the fi rst time because we don’t necessarily learn from books how and when to
feel surprised, that is why it’s a surprise; we live it, experience it and it leaves and impression with
us.
<br>
certain games, movies from their childhoods very vividly. Its an introduction to a feeling we experience maybe for the fi rst time because we don’t necessarily learn from books how and when to
feel surprised, that is why it’s a surprise; we live it, experience it and it leaves and impression with us.
In my opinion, what drives everyone as a common denominator is amazement; because it takes
us to our childhoods or distant memories where we fi rst felt that feeling of awe. This is the main
purpose behind any kind of interactive design and I think books can be an amazing medium to
@ -396,8 +406,10 @@ author: Stephen
I believe the key is to make an already engaging story enriched with interactive elements that
appear to you through a click if you choose to. I think this is also the key to nourishing a new way
of storytelling.
Loop 9
### Loop 9
Interactivity in reading and writing in history. What changed?
Interactivity has always been an experimental area in literature from inscriptions to narrative
games then to playable stories and artifi cial intelligence. I will expand some of these examples
from the rich history of interactive fi ction. When I dig a little bit into the media archaeology there
@ -407,41 +419,43 @@ author: Stephen
later turned into narrative games or remained as prototypes and lastly how the integration of media
and literature has been such a grand topic even before information and technology era. Some
examples to this is music, masks, puppets, props used in storytelling.
Ancient texts with annotations such as The Odyssey, The Mahabharata are maybe the earliest
written interactive experiences in a historical context. They are published with notes and explanations,
clarifi cations which make the text inhabit diff erent opinions and approaches in an engaging
way where the reader can choose to hop on and off from the annotation and margin texts.
written interactive experiences in a historical context. They are published with notes and explanations, clarifi cations which make the text inhabit diff erent opinions and approaches in an engaging way where the reader can choose to hop on and off from the annotation and margin texts.
From the 70s to the present there have been many examples but I will be focusing on a few here.
One of them is, Choose your own adventure books which allowed the reader to participate in
the plot. These still exist as picture books where you are directed to certain pages according to
the choices you make throughout the story. Along with this were also board games and cards that
required interactive inputs. Some examples to this is exploding kittens or cards against humanity
where the player has the autonomy to be creative and fi ll in the blanks to win the game. Simultaneously,
text-based adventure games such as Zork and Adventure were popular. Early days of
where the player has the autonomy to be creative and fi ll in the blanks to win the game. Simultaneously, text-based adventure games such as Zork and Adventure were popular. Early days of
computing off ered a wide space for exploring virtual worlds. In the early 80s, hypertext fi ction
contributed to electronic literature. Hyperlinks were used as a tool to navigate a text and choose
paths of reading. This inspired me to write this thesis with diff erent modes of reading as well.
After the 80’s, Interactive fi ction gained popularity as a genre of interacting with text based input.
Dynabook by Alan Kay was prototyped during this time as a promising reading and writing device
designed for children.
<br>
The 21st century off ers a combination of text and illustrations in augmented reality books that
have animations, sound and external interactions. These are followed by digital storytelling platforms
like Wattpad and Storybird and interactive e-book apps such as Pibocco, Bookr and Tiny
Minies. Most of these apps are dedicated to education however and not solely to creativity. Their
aim is to use creative elements to foster education for kids.
With Wink, I want to use a mainly educational tool (a book) to foster creativity and expression. So
I believe it is the opposite purpose as to these examples in certain ways. I am trying to combine
the delicacy of a narrative where you can only be a reader and the excitement of autonomous
writing and experiencing.
This is because I think the understanding and usage of media changed in the last years. Some
tools that created the awe eff ect for users faded and left their place to more compact designs.
Although audio books were very welcome at some point, younger users nowadays prefer book
summary apps or podcasts to them. Of course they are still used and not outdated but there is
certainly a visible change to where media is heading.
Loop 10
### Loop 10
Experimentation of creative exercises to be used in WINK. Exercises of storytelling
with words, images, drawing, sound and gestures.
Before I completed the prototype of Wink, I reached out to an international school in Rotterdam
to make a 20 minute workshop with kids between ages 6-8. The aim here was to grasp the
interactive elements in the picture book to implement in the digital framework. I wanted to see
@ -449,6 +463,7 @@ author: Stephen
It also helped me draw the pictures for the book accordingly and edit the text with their reactions
in mind. Due to a privacy agreement, I couldn’t record or use any data from the workshop but I
made some helpful observations from my time there.
The fi rst workshop I planned consisted of two main parts that made up 20 minutes. The fi rst 10
minutes we read Bee Within (attached in the appendix) together in a circle and the last 10 minutes
we played little improvisation games, focused on the three main characters in the story (the bee,
@ -456,34 +471,38 @@ author: Stephen
them to embody a character throughout the workshop and be loyal to it. Each group of three had
1 minute on the stage to silently improvise their characters. They were to use one sentence if they
wanted to speak.
During the fi rst part, I couldn’t observe as I was busy reading but their teacher kindly took notes
during this time, regarding the children’ reactions to parts of the story. I inserted the bees and
trees narrative to the reading by tossing the paper I had in my hand and picking up a new one as I
kept reading the bees and trees story. This was crucial because I wanted to see if this multiple stories
in one concept would be confusing for kids. The teacher told me that they were excited about
kept reading the bees and trees story. This was crucial because I wanted to see if this multiple stories in one concept would be confusing for kids. The teacher told me that they were excited about
my gesture of juggling papers as I seemingly read one story. They were intrigued and confused
at fi rst but they did keep up with the storyline and understood all. Her notes basically said they
were very focused and less interested in the kids journey. They really liked the bee and were a bit
confused with the tree.
There were 12 international kids and 3 of them didn’t want to join the workshop, they wanted to
observe. I told them that they could paint and draw what they see. The drawings they made were
of their classmates acting as trees or bees. They drew their classmate with a stinger and the other
was of a classmate as a tree with his hands wide open as he was performing.
What struck me most on the second part of the workshop was how these kids used the room
so freely and in relation to their characters. Because we read the story before the improvisation
games, some of their characters were infl uenced by how it is in the story we read. Next workshop,
I am planning to not tell the story but to talk about it before and give context. This is because I
want to see how their understanding changes without a limitation of a story.
<br>
Bees in the classroom that day were all very active and they used chairs, tables and windows to
position themselves in a higher perspective. Children who played the kid were usually standing
closer to the trees and looked very calm. Trees were all very diff erent. One of the kids used postits
as leaves. Some of them didn’t have leaves because it is winter. Trees didn’t move at all and
the bees were buzzing all around. “The kid” usually sat near the tree, on the tree (as in the other
performers’ lap or hugged them).
Overall only 2 groups used the option to say a sentence which were,
“I want to go on an adventure”
“I don’t wanna leave Gray(the tree)”
This was a good feedback for me because I realized they are very perceptive of actions and facial
expressions rather than words.
The workshop we did in the studio with XPUB 2 students was harder than the session with the
@ -491,6 +510,7 @@ author: Stephen
control. No one actually attempted in using objects from the room which is a huge diff erence with
the kids because they drew on their faces, used plastic bags as wings for the bee and made sounds
with their mouths as trees.
The next workshop was to discover how improv would work without reading the story fi rst. This
workshop was fruitful because it helped me realize how much information or guidance I have to
off er for children in order for them to be comfortable to participate and interact without confusion.
@ -503,6 +523,7 @@ author: Stephen
kids were buzzing/running around, the “kids” were walking around, acting like they are playing
which I found very interesting. Some trees were small some were mighty and old. It was helpful to
see the diff erent attributions they gave to the characters.
After the circle session, they separated in three groups: the kids, the bees and the trees. I asked
each group to come up, walk around randomly, embodying the character they chose. Then as I
rang the bell, I asked them to change the character. I asked them to be a busy, tired, injured, happy
@ -517,7 +538,7 @@ author: Stephen
was good to see that they weren’t scared or discouraged by negative emotions as well. We ended
the workshop by drawing our characters. It was nice to see them own their imaginary characters
enough to draw them with joy.
<br>
The last workshop was dedicated to discovering the sound aspect. The tree in the story speaks
in verses so I chose one verse and read/performed it in a circle to begin with. Then I gave them
some instruments: a drum, a bell, aluminum folio, a balloon and a bubble wrap. I asked for a few
@ -527,6 +548,7 @@ author: Stephen
think I made a mistake by making a few kids do foley at the same time because they didn’t know
how to take turns and were hesitant at fi rst. Then quite impressively, they made their own system
where they took turns to make eff ects for each sentence.
Then I made four groups of three. 3 kids as actors and 3 kids as foley actors. They buddied up
and made short scenes where one group made sounds eff ects to the others acting on stage. This
was the best part of this workshop because they could lead the actors with the sounds they made
@ -534,13 +556,14 @@ author: Stephen
eff ective to the story itself. They were very creative in using the objects in the room and turning
them into a tool for sound. They enjoyed to foley the bee and the other characters not so much.
Which showed me that I should focus on the sound of the bee in the prototype.
Overall, the workshops were very helpful for me to understand where to focus on as I develop. I
realized that some of the sound, color and movement animations I planned were too complicated
and I decided to make them more simplistic. I decided to animate the tree with only color because
I was eff ected by this one participant who took the red jacket to represent the tree was mad.
For the bee I decided to focus on sound more. For the kid I decided to use more visual animations
to make it more interesting.
<br>
One other thing the workshops helped me with is the multiple stories I am planning to tell in one
narrative. The book I have has two side quest/stories so it nice to see that kids weren’t confused
with these narratives. I decided to make the story of the tree as a click game where the lines
@ -550,7 +573,7 @@ author: Stephen
the character, I wanted to make it more like a game to give the kids a chance and autonomy to be
a part of the story itself.
Loop 11
### Loop 11
The diff erences of these exercises in WINK than the already existing interactive
e-book platforms
The interactive e-book apps existing today, made especially for children, are quite similar in both
@ -559,39 +582,45 @@ author: Stephen
without side quests. This is the main diff erence with what I am trying to design.
Wink acts as a tool to play with and choose paths. The story isn’t linear in the traditional way
where you interact with the pictures and fi nish the book but there are side stories to the main
story that they can discover or choose not to. I think this is a solid diff erence. This makes it a playable
narrative, diff erent from a book.
story that they can discover or choose not to. I think this is a solid diff erence. This makes it a playable narrative, diff erent from a book.
This prototype is a good start to see how far I can get with the interactive elements and side
stories without confusing or discouraging the children. There are many other aspects that can be
implemented to this design such as writing elements and drawing but for the meantime, also in
correspondence with the workshops, I choose to test the sound and image along with one main
and two small narratives.
For future prototypes, I envision space to draw and write as a contribution to the story and maybe
turning Wink into a hybrid format with more autonomous features. For me, at this point, it’s valuable
and essential to see if my technique of combining narratives is working or not.
Loop 12
Standing End
### Loop 12
## Standing End
After many loops of thought, we are here at the standing end of the thesis. There is room for
more loops and knots in the future to secure this string of thought but for now, we have come to
the dock and rest ashore.
Reading this thesis with a string, using concrete thinking as a technique to go through a research
and text was a helpful exercise for me and helped me mark my thoughts and ideas. The overarching
theme of knots and experimental approach to modes of reading was valuable for me to share
and try as an enthusiastic young writer. I like that I asked the reader to interact with the thesis and
follow paths accordingly.
It was enlightening to see the results of working with kids and be able to see from their point of
view and alter everything according to these encounters. Using CCI and Multiliteracy theory as
a guide to approach the design and prototype was helpful in understanding how to approach and
tackle the desire of making something for children.
Now from where I stand, I feel more rooted and have a clearer idea of what works and doesn’t
work. Some features that I think would work very well like the choice of writing didn’t go as
planned because multiple narratives is already too much. I realized I underestimated the eff ect of
introducing a new media to children. This is why I decided to take it step by step with the interactivity.
Taking a step to make Wink and using the story I wrote and feel is important in my personal history
as a prototype was a breakthrough. I feel like my interest and desire to discover new ways of
writing, reading and experiencing literature is ongoing and it was a beautiful journey so far. I am
looking forward to making more knots on this long and mysterious string at hand.
<br>
Bibliography:
Cope, B. and Kalantzis, M. (2009) ‘“multiliteracies”: New Literacies, new learning’, Pedagogies: An International
Journal, 4(3), pp. 164–195. doi:10.1080/15544800903076044.
