Concept
For our project, we chose E-learning as we found the concept interesting in association with the current issue of underage social networking. The main idea for this project is to educate and inform a target audience of 9-16 year olds of the dangers and consequences of social networking. This will also provide the participants with safety tips and useful information on the subject. This project is centred on having fun whilst learning; therefore our aim is to relate the seriousness of the subject combined with some interactive fun, which would encourage our audience to participate.
Research has been conducted to get an insight to the concerns around social networking. The most relevant news articles found were produced by Daily mail, Times Online, The Guardian and the Telegraph, all of which state the fears for children’s safety and the increased concerns about the influences social networks are having. These news articles have been produced for mature reading, therefore not accessible for children and come across as mundane. The aim of this project is to condense the context and make it more interesting for the target audience.
Another useful website we came across was ‘Childnet-International’; it gave us an insight of simple acronyms produced for children with regards to safety whilst using social networking sites. The acronyms are used as an easy way to remember safety tips; therefore this is relevant to the educational aspect of our project.
The main inspirations that motivated this project came from the use of mosaic imaging for the home page. This idea was brought to our attention from recent multimedia artist’s who featured at the V&A Decode exhibition. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s work was also influential to our project with his ‘make out’ piece. The design intrigued the group regarding the custom made home page and use of mosaic imaging and sound. Ross Phillips ‘video grid’ explored the evolution of audience interactivity and furthermore it represented how the audience continuously altered his original piece via involving themselves in his work.
During our research we came across a children’s website which included a lot of information that was relevant to this project, this being the CBBC website. We found the way the presented the information extremely mundane as it was flat text with limited images. This gave us the initiative to produce a piece that contains similar information but more interactive and appealing to our target audience.
We decided to use a space theme for the project and this idea was taken from the Bestival website. The website’s interface includes moving 2D objects, which is similar to what we intend to do. The colour scheme is not to our preference therefore the colour theme will change.
The project will be suitable for the target audience as we are including many interactive and animated pages. The theme of the project will be portrayed through the use of illustrated and animated images, which is popular within the age frame of our target audience. The piece is very educational which is suitable for 9-16 year olds, as they are at the prime of their education. From the article Children Flock to social networks by the BBC "Ofcom's survey of 5,000 adults and 3,000 children found 49% of those aged between eight and 17 have a profile", therefore all information used is relevant due to them not being at a responsible age.
Project Timeline
•Week 5 – Background and images complete. Decide on second game concept. Film video.
•Week 6 – Complete the home page on Flash.
•Week 7 – Complete information page and start safety tips page
•Week 8 – Complete safety tips and set goals for Easter. Images for games ready
•Week 9 – Edit video
•Week 10 – Games should be complete
•Week 11/12 – Perfect, tidy and check
Product Description
The product will consist of a home page, one interactive game, animated safety tips on social networking and a page detailing relevant information services. The navigation of the project will consist of the following:-
The home page will be a pixilated/mosaic face, which will have no features therefore appearing futuristic. Once the pixilated face has faded onto the screen a small introduction will appear stating to the participant what to expect from this programme. The writing will be presented to the audience through a ‘type writer’ effect. This will therefore add to the futuristic theme that this project is conveying. Also, along with the typewriter effect, a sci-fi sound will be heard by the participant, which is commonly used in films such as ‘Independence Day’ and ‘Delta Force’.
Buttons
Within the pixilated image there will be five hidden buttons that will appear when scrolled over. When a button appears, it will give the user a screen shot taste of what’s ‘inside’. Each of the buttons that appear on the ‘home page’ will lead to a separate section of the programme which leads to a separate experience. Theses buttons will consist of a video, information services, advice on safety tips and a quiz. When in the separate experiences further buttons will be displayed at the bottom of the screen, therefore giving the participant the option to navigate around the programme.
The video button will consist of two different scenarios; an imperfect scenario followed by a perfect scenario. This will be done through using the Final Cut Pro; our aim is to provide educational information on how to prevent children from endangering themselves through social networking sites. The reason why we decided to include this video in the project is because in our research we found that “almost 60% of children use social networking sites” (BBC, 2008).
The quiz button will contain questions that relate to the content of the e-learning project. During our research we found useful acronyms such as SMART and the 5P’s which will produce another button. Current websites such as ‘Staying safe on the web’ (BBC, 2010) are filled with flat text, which can be very tedious and boring to read, this is why we chose to animate the acronyms.
Lastly, an information page button will be provided in order to give the viewer/parent information on being safe on line, such as the CEOP website, which is a new government run scheme on internet safety, therefore providing up to date advice.
Relationship Theory and Practice
This production is best suited for educational purposes, therefore it would make sense to distribute it in schools where our target audience is more likely to access it. This gives it the potential to be issued to our audience in the form of a CD ROM as well as a website. The reason being is that the age frame of the target audience is at the prime of their education. Therefore it relates to the common phrase ‘get them while their young’ which refers to educating children from an early age about the dangers of current issues that the government are concerned about. It would also converge well with websites aimed at children such as the CBBC section on the BBC website, which we felt did not fully engage with its audience. However we feel that this project will bring a new light to the overall concerns of social networking.
Bibliography
· BBC (2008) ‘Children Flock to social networks’. Available at: ‘Staying safe on the web’. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7325019.stm
· Newsround (2010) ‘Staying safe on the web Q&A’. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8490000/newsid_8492000/8492017.stm
· Derbyshire, D (2009) Social websites harm children's brains: Chilling warning to parents from top neuroscientist’. Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1153583/Social-websites-harm-childrens-brains-Chilling-warning-parents-neuroscientist.html
· Sabbagh, D (2008) ‘Children’s social network pages ‘must have privacy lock’’. Available at: http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3663312.ece
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