In week 4, we discussed how multimedia can foster student creativity and enhance their learning. Multimedia is a broad concept that refers to the delivery of information via a range of media consisting of texts, visuals, audio, videos, animation and graphics (Mayer, 2017). Multimedia-technology is engaging and provides excellent learning-opportunities for both, students and teachers.
The Stop Motion Studio animation-software is a form of multimedia which relies on an individuals ability to capture real-life objects one-frame-at-a-time and manipulating them in order to create an illusion of film-like movements (Weng, 2022). Stop-motion-studio is a free app that can easily be downloaded and utilised by students onto their devices. It allows students to create their own stop-motion-animations by either manually or automatically capturing frames and embedding images, music, voiceovers, and text into their animation.
Stop Motion Studio animation reflects a constructivist approach as learners such as teachers and students construct meaning by cognitively manipulating detained knowledge and information to create their stop-animation video (Wishart, 2017). Stop animation promotes learning as it allows learners to make connections between their long-term memory and working-memory as well as enhances their social-interactions (Wishart, 2017).
Students can use Stop Motion Studio creatively to produce videos which relate to the NSW-curriculum and class activities across all KLA's by designing projects that suit the subject-area. For instance, students can create an animation that highlights the importance of road-safety and the effects of negligent driving on the environment. This is reflected in the stage 2 NSW PDHPE road safety mapping tool which states that students promote positive-health and-safety through the use of technology (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) K-6 Syllabus Road Safety Content, 2023).
Stop-motion activities foster a learners creativity as they are provided with the opportunity to express their content and ideas creatively and collaboratively. Learners can experiment with different software-features, hence, fostering creativity and widening their imagination. Research conducted by Hashimi et al. (2019) found that 76% of students preferred using multimedia as a learning tool as it increased their motivation, creativity and engagement, as well as increased diversity in teaching and learning. Therefore teachers should encourage the use of stop-motion animation to enhance learning.
Despite the wonders Stop-Motion-Studio has to offer, it restricts individuals from using all its features unless a paid version has been bought, hence, it is costly. Also, students and teachers may be limited to materials and resources for class-projects, thus, limiting their creativity. It is also difficult to construct a stop-motion project without a plan or sketch for each frame, hence it can be confusing and time consuming (Pullen & Bregler, 2002).
References
Hashimi, S. A., Muwali, A. A., Zaki, Y., & Mahdi, N. (2019). The Effectiveness of Social
Media and Multimedia-Based Pedagogy in Enhancing Creativity among Art, Design, and Digital Media Students. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (Ijet), 14(21), 176. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v14i21.10596
Mayer, R. E. (2017). Using multimedia for e‐learning. Journal of Computer Assisted
Learning, 33(5), 403–423. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12197
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) K-6 syllabus road safety
content. (2023, February 24). https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/road-safety-education/teaching-and-learning/primary-school/k-6-pdhpe-road-safety-content
Pullen, & Bregler, C. (2002). Motion capture assisted animation: texturing and synthesis.
ACM Transactions on Graphics, 21(3), 501–508. https://doi.org/10.1145/566654.566608
Weng, W. (2022) “Interactive design and production of live-action stop-motion animation
based on Digital Media,” Mobile Information Systems, 2022, pp. 1–11. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/1706563.
Wishart, J. (2017). Exploring How Creating Stop-Motion Animations Supports Student
Teachers in Learning to Teach Science. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 49(1–2), 88–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2017.1291316
Hi Ayah,
I really enjoyed reading your blog and explanation of Stop Motion Studio. I liked your explanation of how it fosters creativity in students as well as your explanation on how using the app is a constructivist approach.
I appreciated the direct link to the NSW syllabus and example, your first-hand experience with Stop Motion Studio is also showcased through the video you created of road safety. I would've liked to see more direct limitations. Overall, a great read.
Jana Khaled (12/03/2023)
Hi Ayah,
Thank you for sharing your knowledge on Stop Motion Studio. I really like that you have highlighted this tool as I have very little experience myself in how videos and video editing works so this can put a really good perspective for children how this field works. Excellent choice. I really like your stage 2 road safety example as it allows for students not just to learn factual knowledge, but also about how they can share that knowledge with others. I think you could have explained more about how these are job transferrable skills and can be applicable in many roles in the students' futures, but I think it was a really nice reading at the end of the…
Hi Ayah,
I loved reading your post about multimedia and Stop Motion Studio! Really good explanation and summary about what these two things are and how they are effectively used to enhance creativity in the classroom. Your road safety example is great and would be super engaging for primary students.
I am really interested to know how stop motion assists students in making connections between long-term-memory and working-memory? Is it through learning how to use stop motion or using stop motion to explore different content areas?
A great read thank you!
Hi Ayah,
I found your blog post really engaging, especially in describing stop motion animation which I think is an effective tool for multimedia and fostering creativity. I do think that it can be implemented in every key learning area especially for students to create fun engaging videos. Also, could be taken to a whole new level of engagement if this tool is implemented as a collaboration task where students can share their ideas as to how to show the content they have learnt and portray it in a video.
In terms of limitations of multimedia, I do think that stop animation does have its limitations which you have duly noted. However, stop animation does not include stock media in…