There is no denying that visual technology can engross a person so much so that person were asked to repeat what they have watched a detailed description is often verbalised back. Nonetheless, when it comes to learning, do visual spaces really help a learner and develop their thinking skills and deepen their knowledge?
Animation in learning could be regarded a dyadic genre of learning. Firstly, the making of an animation through either manipulation or computer programmes such as Zu3D can develop a multitude of essential skills. Secondly, viewing animation as a learning tool to explain domain specific information can enhance the learners ability to understand more deeply than when explained verbally.
Learning through Making.
In this fast moving, technological world, children remain to develop the same basic skills but in a more current and up to date way. Making stop-motion animation draws and develops many skills in the learner. To begin with an idea has to be thought, then discussed with a learning group, developing communication skills and tolerance, or thought through by the individual. As animation is regarded a mechanism to tell a story, a story board must be developed to organise these thoughts and ideas using organisation and literacy skills using higher order thinking. Then with the manipulation of material that is used for the animation fine motor skills are developed. Finally photographing each frame and developing sound encourages tolerance and patience along with motor skills.
Lowe (2003) argues that manipulation of materials to form stop-motion animation fosters a deeper learning experience than computer animation. However computer animation through Go!Animate and Scratch as a growing teaching resource are said to provide rich learning experiences for children in topics ranging from language through to history and mathematics. So the 21st Century educator cannot ignore growing technological educational tool to stimulate the modern learner.To allow me to experience of model making for animation we were given the opportunity to produce a clay model from scratch. With modelling clay I made a man.
During this process we were advised to model our characters from one ball of modelling clay as to prevent limbs from detaching when moving them. I began with the head and moved onto the body. The thought process was stimulating my own higher order thinking skills as I thought deeply to analyse and evaluate my actions. I had to think about body shape, proportion, weight distribution for balance and strength for the durability of my model. Then the smaller details had to be moulded, the nose, mouth and eyes for example took patience and fine motor skills. The whole process was deeply thoughtful as well as a creative learning experience which is transferable to any learning environment with any age group.
However, it is not only modelling that can be used in animation for learning. Any materials can be used such as paper, cloth or even the learners themselves as seen in this Children's FLY! workshop production.
An example of children working together to create stop-motion animation
Learning through Watching.
It is argued that watching animation as a tool for learning can be complex and it is important that certain criteria are met so that it benefits the learning process. Lowe (2003) explains that for a learner to benefit from watching animation it must be designed specifically to meet the domains learning criteria. Then the animation itself must not have too much going on as it is possible the learner will focus their attentions on an area which is not relevant. It is also important that the learner can extract the information and organise this information cognitively within areas of already conceptualised knowledge. For this to work, the learner must have some knowledge of the subject before they view any form of visual learning tool. If the learner, for example has no knowledge that a ball bounces up and down and they view a visual learning tool that explains to them a ball bounces from side to side, the learner will internalise this misconception. It is also explained that any intrinsic, form, or extrinsic positional transformations must be relevant to the subject domain or those changes could cause misconceptions. However, these forms of change within an animation can enhance the learning if contrasted to the background giving the learners eye direction. Ainsworth (2008) adds to this by explaining the importance of segmenting animation; the learner has control over the viewing experience.
It also important to recognise, as Ploetzner and Schlag (2013) explain, cognitive theory of multimedia learning developed by Richard Mayer in 2001. Mayer theorises that the working brain can become overloaded with information so it is important for teaching professionals to organise their animation for learning in a way that can optimise the students learning experience and internalisation of maximum knowledge.
Nonetheless, if these criteria are successfully met Lowe (2003) argues that using animations to explain subject matter does in fact aid learning allowing a fruitful and enjoyable learning experience for the student.
