Poster Information
| Title | Children's use of new media for imaginative play, production, and storytelling |
| Presenter(s) | Sabrina Connell and Ariel Maschke |
| Session | Conference Reception, Game Exhibition, and Poster Session |
| Time | Thursday, October 18, 7:00p-10:00p |
| Location | East Lansing Technology Innovation Center |
| Format | Poster Presentation |
| Description | While research suggests that children's play and narrative are intertwined and overlapping practices, little research has examined both practices together (Nicolopoulou, 2006). Previous research suggests that carefully designed technology may be able to promote sophisticated forms of children's storytelling, while also promoting the development of imagination and providing a bridge to formal literacy (Cassell & Ryokai, 2001). Although new technologies provide opportunities for children to produce digital stories and films, little is actually known about children's play or narrative practices using new media. The current study examined the nature and extent of digital storytelling in a sample of young children who played the Toontastic iPad application and uploaded a video to the http://toontube.launchpadtoys.com website. Forty animated cartoons and user profiles were randomly selected and examined for elements of character development and narrative structure, story themes, and differences in user play styles. Findings suggest that children using the app engaged in various forms of object play, dramatic play, and constructive play, with variations in styles and themes by user gender. Additionally, films revealed a range of narrative practices, including character development and narrative coherence. Findings suggest that examining films produced by children using Toontastic may allow researchers to map the developmental trajectory of children's narrative skills as well as the developmental trajectory of their imaginative play. Doing so can address gaps in the literature on narrative and play that have been constrained by previous research methodologies and may also provide insight into how such technologies may influence children's narrative and play practices. |