Tok

Abstract

We present the design of the first prototype of TOK -a tangible interface for children to create their own stories. Based on data collected with two groups of five years old preschoolers we present our findings regarding the interaction design of the system. The picture cards have shown to generate ideas, acting as input for the creation of stories, promoting creativity while proposing a framework that supports and guides the construction of logical structures. This is a first step in an effort to build a toolkit of tangible interfaces allowing children and teachers to build their own digital enhanced learning activities.

Play Platforms for Children’s Creativity

“…The study presented here took place in a Portuguese preschool, involving six classes of pre-schoolers, of five-years-olds and six preschool teachers, for a period of around three years (Sylla, 2013;Sylla et al, 2011;2013b). Although the teachers were always the same, the team worked every year with two new groups of children, namely the class attending the last preschool year, just before entering primary school the year after.…”

A digital manipulative for embodied “stage-narrative” creation

“…The design and development process of the interface extended for a period of three years, involving various classes of five years old pre-schoolers and their teachers (Sylla, 2013a(Sylla, , 2013bSylla et al, 2011). Although the teachers were always the same, the researchers worked every year with the children from the class attending the last preschool year, just before entering primary school the year after.…”

A Tangible Platform for Mixing and Remixing Narratives

“…Taking into account results and observations from previous studies [6] the system animates the elements on the screen following the order in which the picture-blocks are placed, and not their position on the board. When a block is removed from the platform it just disappears from the screen ( fig.1).…”