Educational Benefits of Animation

[Marc Winter]

Animation is this year's buzzword in Primary and Secondary Education, and recent software developments enable children from a very young age to get creative and create animation of their own.

Yet animation is not mentioned in the QCA and many teachers have difficulties integrating animation activities into the curriculum.

I would like to discuss the benefits of animation in primary and secondary education, with a view on establishing links to the national curriculum in the UK.

The list below makes no direct links, but relates loosely to subjects and topics mentioned in the NC. I hope it can be a starting point for this discussion...

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Art and Design

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. Exploring and developing ideas: Develop and explore new ideas in a playful

and easy to use environment.

. Constructing and manipulating shapes: Create and manipulate shapes and

learn about their geometric structure.

. Exploring colors: Explore colors and learn about primary, secondary and

complementary colors.

. Combining visual elements: Learn about form, color and composition when

creating backgrounds and scenes.

. Using time and motion: Use time and motion as artistic tools and bring

static images to life.

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ICT

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. Sharing information: Share clips over the integrated messaging system and

build clip libraries.

. Learning basic work patterns: Use basic work patterns and standard

mechanisms like cut/copy/paste and undo/redo.

. Storing and retrieving information: Learn about file handling when

creating, saving and loading documents.

. Improving mouse handling skills: Use the mouse in an exciting environment

and develop coordination and precision.

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Design and Technology

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. Generating and communicating ideas: Create characters and stories and

exchange them with others.

. Templates and components: Use templates and components to design and build

new things.

. Tools and techniques: Select appropriate tools, techniques and processes

for specific tasks.

. Planning and organisation: Plan and organise groupwork in collaborative

projects.

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English

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. Developing a storyline: Create imaginative stories and develop their

storyline.

. Developing characters: Develop characters and describe their personality.

. Dramatic techniques: Use timing, suspension and surprise when animating a

story.

. Comment and critique: Learn how to comment constructively on the work of

others.

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Citizenship

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. Diversity and community: Learn about other languages and cultures in in

international projects.

. Communication and discussion: Communicate ideas and exchange thoughts and

opinions with others.

. Participation and cooperation: Participate in global projects and learn to

cooperate effectively.

. Responsibility: Experience how teamwork depends on responsible individual

action.

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Of course there are many more educational benefits to animation, especially

in a cross-curricular context...

Thanks...