Transmedia.

What is transmedia and what does it have to do with educating today’s children? Transmedia is a form storytelling that  allows the narrative to expand over different media platforms and continues the story for a long period of time (Johnson, 2013).

Figure 1. A visual idea of what transmedia looks like

This can include:

• comic books
• video games
• books
• mobile apps
• tv shows
• film
• radio

Transmedia allows the inspiration to engage with other creators, seek out other parts of the story, and contribute to the narrative by adding content (Rutledge, n.d.). This allows fans and followers to have their own imput and expand the universe of their favorite stories.

 click here to view a video on transmedia. 

Nowadays most people have access to technologies that allow them to manipulate and circulate media content. All of these new technologies could support a mixture of educational techniques (Kalogereas, 2013).

Kalogeras (2013, p. ______) of Business College of Athens argues that: “these self contained parts can be utilized as teaching aids, in conjunction with traditional learning tools, when the context of the material is complementary to the subject matter.”

Herr-Stephenson,  Alper,  Reilly and  Jenkins (2013) suggest that:

• transmedia play can promote new approaches to reading
• transmedia can encourage learning through joint media engagement

  

  Figure 2  Students connecting through transmedia.

•  transmedia play can support constructivist learning goals

As  Herr-Stephenson et al. (2013) ,  suggest transmedia provides a place for students to explore, experiment and contribute to the story as it unfolds over the complex, interconnected and dynamic world of different media platforms.

It forces students to use different types of media literacy skills to retell media (Herr- Stephenson, et al.,  2013). If executed correctly, transmedia can allow an immersive, responsive, student-centered learning environment full of information related to students’ existing knowledge.

Reference:

Derek Johnson (2013) A history of transmedia entertainment

Retrieved from

http://spreadablemedia.org/essays/johnson/#.VhN2vM7iT8G

Pamela Rutledge (n.d.) What is transmedia storytelling?

Retrieved from:

http://athinklab.com/transmedia-storytelling/what-is-transmedia-storytelling/

Stavroula Kalogeras, (2013)

Media-Education Convergence: Applying Transmedia Storytelling Edutainment in E-Learning Environments

Becky Herr-Stephenson and Meryl Alper with Erin Reilly and introduction by Henry Jenkins (2013)

T is for Transmedia: Learning through Transmedia Play

Image reference:

Krishna Stott 02.14.14

http://www.provideocoalition.com/how-to-recognise-a-modern-transmedia-audience