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Wayland Literacy Institute 28 June 2012

Wayland Literacy Institute 28 June 2012 Finally, Students can be Characters: Increased Engagement and Comprehension through Interactive Fiction Ed DeHoratius Wayland High School Wayland, MA edmund_dehoratius@wayland.k12.ma.us followyourfates@gmail.com. Who am I?

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Wayland Literacy Institute 28 June 2012

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  1. Wayland Literacy Institute 28 June 2012 Finally, Students can be Characters: Increased Engagement and Comprehension through Interactive Fiction Ed DeHoratius Wayland High School Wayland, MA edmund_dehoratius@wayland.k12.ma.us followyourfates@gmail.com

  2. Who am I? • high school English & Latin teacher • writer and author • no middle or elementary teaching experience - lifeguard? parent? • firm believer in the usefulness and flexibility of this form for students of any age

  3. Overview / Outline • pre-reading • the text • some history & background • in the classroom • reviews / assessments • [post-reading?] • discussion / questions / preparation

  4. How many people have read the Iliad? Do you remember it at all?

  5. The Genesis of Follow Your Fates • 2003 Senior Project • 2005 teaching Classical Literature • 2008 begin shopping the Wrath MS • 2009 Wrath of Achilles published • 2009 Journey of Odysseus published • 2010 Exile of Aeneas published

  6. Goals of the Follow Your Fates Series • Introduce the substance of ancient literature to younger readers for whom the originals are inaccessible. • Teach the narratives of the ancient epics. • Generate interest in ancient literature to lead readers to the study of the languages. • Generate interest in the ancient world.

  7. Features of the FYF Series • Presents narrative of ancient epics (Iliad, Odyssey, Aeneid) as written by ancient authors (minus scenes in which hero does not appear). • Five illustrations per book in Graphic Novel style. • Introduction that provides background and context to story. • Glossary of names that defines and provides pronunciation for names that appear in text. • Greater coverage of narratives (e.g. Odysseus includes Telemachos ruse).`

  8. Other Options: Prose Retellings • Amazon search for ‘juvenile Homer’s Odyssey’

  9. What is Interactive Fiction (according to me)? - written in 2nd person - reader presented with choices - each choice yields a different narrative path This, however, is more strictly speaking hypertext fiction.

  10. What is Interactive Fiction (according to others more official)? - a computer program / piece of software that… - …both accepts and generates text - a potential narrative (i.e. one that develops based on input or interaction) - a simulation of a world and/or environment - a structure of rules within which an outcome is sought (i.e. a game or puzzle; such rules limit the input) [Montfort Twisty Little Passages 23]

  11. A Brief History • Begun in 1979. • Had its origins in the marriage of role playing games and books. • Over 20 years, the series sold over 250 million copies in 38 languages. • Fifth best selling series of all time • Originally the first publication of Bantam’s new children’s division. • Last book published by Bantam (since a division of Random House) was in 1998. • In 2002, the rights reverted to founder R. A. Montgomery, who now publishes the books under his own imprint, Chooseco LLC (Waitsfield, VT).

  12. Other CYOA Incarnations • Follow Your Fates • Shilo Shiv Suleman’s Khoya (TED Talk / INK) • Star Wars Decide Your Destiny • http://www.boundlessstories.com/about.html • Plenty of others

  13. WHY (my def of) IF?

  14. Impact in Education (from cyoa.com) “CYOA has been cited by multiple educators as a uniquely effective method for helping students learn to read.” “The series has documented popular appeal for kids as well as specific appeal for the reluctant reader population due to the interactivity.”

  15. IF in the Classroom

  16. How much of the Iliad do you remember?

  17. What is the name of Achilles’ slave girl (whom Agamemnon takes)? • Chryses • Briseis • Chryseis • Briareus • Don’t know

  18. Which goddess prevented Achilles from killing Agamemnon? • Artemis • Hera • Athena • Thetis • Hestia • Don’t know

  19. IF in the Classroom • Pre-reading (older students) • Primary source for Troy / Ancient World / Ancient Epic / Rome unit (younger students who wouldn’t read original) • Assignment, e.g. have students ‘convert’ an existing story to IF • Technology: IF, of course, lends itself to technology work • Assessment: successful navigation of path indicates comprehension of text • Specific Assignment [see next slide]

  20. http://www.edutopia.org/blog/using-video-in-classroom-ron-peckhttp://www.edutopia.org/blog/using-video-in-classroom-ron-peck

  21. Writing Your Own IF • Write the story in order first (i.e. unshuffled / no page jumps) • Most difficult part about converting an existing narrative or situation is coming up with plausible alternate endings (easier when you’re making your own narrative and don’t have a reference point) • Use an excel spreadsheet to then shuffle the pages

  22. What do you think? How would you use it?

  23. What next?What fate would you (or your students) like to follow next?

  24. Thank You! Ed DeHoratius Wayland High School Wayland, MA edmund_dehoratius@wayland.k12.ma.us followyourfates@gmail.com followyourfates.weebly.com

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