MARVIN: Changing the Art of the Storyteller

1
MARVIN Changing the Art of the Storyteller

• Luke Bender
• Stephen Dudar sdudar_at_lssd.ca
• Mapleton School

2
On the Menu

• Introductions
• Information about MARVIN
• Demonstration
• A look behind the curtain Scripting MARVIN
  content
• Opportunities and uses for MARVIN in Canada

3
Introductions

• Luke Bender Grade 6 student at Mapleton School,
  Lord Selkirk School Division
• Stephen Dudar Principal at Mapleton School,
  involved in education, ICT, business and
  administration

4
What is MARVIN?

• Portable digital storytelling and communication
  software
• Utilizing
• Animated avatars
• Scripted actions
• Sound computer generated, voice and music files
• Images graphics, photos, powerpoint

5
We all have stories to tell

• Storytelling is the most powerful way to put
  ideas into the world today. Robert McKee
• If you tell me, its an essay. If you show me,
  its a story. Barbara Greene
• In the end all we haveare stories and methods of
  finding and using those stories. Roger C. Shank,
  from Tell Me A Story

6
Why MARVIN?

• Created in the Northern Territory of Australia -
  geographic challenges
• Philosophy of empowerment and ownership for local
  communities
• Create culturally specific and multi-lingual
  content for education and health training
• Powerful yet easy to learn and use

7
Why MARVIN?

• An innovative and engaging software platform used
  for distance delivery customized content
• Inexpensive means of delivering content
• Adaptable and flexible modified as need changes

8
See it for yourself
http//www.marvin.com.au/marvin/Movies/Projects/Bo
nyaStory.swf
9
(No Transcript)
10
MARVIN in Canada

• Opportunities for Education and Health through
  Microsoft Partners in Learning
• Planned training for late May in Manitoba
• 25000 licenses available little to no cost
• A focus on our First Nations Peoples content
  created by and delivered for target issues, for
  example
• Literacy, drug abuse, diabetes, cultural
  awareness, gangs, etc.

11
MARVIN in Canada

• Educational alternative for digital storytelling
• Used in literature circles creating book
  trailers, etc.
• Avatars are less threatening, safer role playing,
  consistent
• Avoid having student pictures/video accessible
  AUP
• Easy to create, efficient use of time focus on
  content not video editing or character creation
  process

12
Other Opportunities

• Expertise required for avatar creation using 3D
  Image software Maya
• Specific cultural needs
• Training and job opportunities open - Health,
  Education, Government
• Content creation
• Training
• Support
• Open to the imagination! (training videos, book
  talks, lesson delivery)

13
MARVIN requirements

• MARVINS MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
• Microsoft Windows 2000 and above
• A Pentium III 550-megahertz (MHz) PC or faster
• At least 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM
• At least 181 MB free disk space for the core
  components
• An additional 8-12 MB free disk space typically
  for each character you install
• RECOMMENDED REQUIREMENTS
• Microsoft Windows XP (VISTA version available)
• A Pentium III 1- gigahertz (GHz) PC or faster
• At least 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM
• At least 181 MB free disk space for the core
  components
• An additional 8-12 MB free disk space typically
  for each character you install.
• A Windows compatible sound card
• A set of speakers
• A microphone

14
More information about MARVIN?

• MARVIN website
• http//www.marvin.com.au/marvin/home.asp
• OR
• Contact via email sdudar_at_lssd.ca