Teaching computing through 2D and 3D games and animation is the trend today. One of the essential skills that helps the students in using such tools is to master storyboarding. Meaning, before they start coding an animation, it is advisable that they break down their idea into scenes, which will reflect later on in their code. This practice helps not only to have cleaner code that is easier to test, it is in fact a computer science concept: break down your problem into subproblems, solve the subproblems, then put it all together.
In this blog, I integrate maker culture with teaching. Specifically, I use 3Doodler, the pen that draw in the air and you can create plastic toys, clippers, and even fix a few things with! In addition, I use some repurpose material, along with the storyteller in me. I choose a story that is under the see, so you will see the steps and images reflects my choice, but feel free to choose your favourite environment!
You will need:
- 3Doodler Pen
- cardboard box
- decoration material (any color paper would do)
- personal assistant. I got my nephew to help me out!
Now what to do?
Step1. Prepare your world
Bring your cardboard box, separate it into sections, I choose four to reflect 4 scenes of the story.
Step 2. Decorate the box
This depends on the world you choose. Sense I choose under the sea theme, I added seaweeds, plants, around the cardboard box to give it a feel of under the sea.
Step 3. Manufacture your characters
Here you will use the 3Doodler to create your objects. You need the fisherman, fishes, some sea animals and plants, and fish trap. You can use these templates in the references at the end of this blog.
Step 4. Make a story
You can come up with any story. I share mine in this video 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpMp3DwBMRA%20
And now you are set! You can illustrate your story to the class, then have them make their own stories.
On a last note, the images illustrated in each of the steps reflect the main stages you need to accomplish to reach the final product shown in the video. The video also gives you an overall capture of the teaching goal and illustrates an example of a story that you can tell 🙂
References:
Seaweed: http://the3doodler.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cool_corals_seaweed.pdf
Man figure: http://the3doodler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/figureTUTORIALstencil23.pdf
Octopus: http://the3doodler.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Octopus-Tutorial.pdf
Music: Memories In Photos, by AKASHIC RECORDS
Hanan Alshikh 