Objective: 

Students will analyze the impact of technological advancements in storytelling by comparing a written story to its film adaptation and exploring the tradeoffs of different storytelling techniques through a storyboard activity.

Materials Needed:

• A short story and its film adaptation

• Storyboard templates for visualizing key scenes

• Paper and pencils for drawing

Steps:

• Introduction: 

  • Discuss how storytelling has evolved with technology. Introduce the idea of tradeoffs—how new tools, like film techniques or CGI, can enhance storytelling but might also limit creativity or imagination.

• Group Comparison: 

  • Students will work in small groups to compare a short story with its film version. 

  • They will analyze the tradeoffs of using visual and sound effects in the film, considering how these techniques impact the storytelling experience.

• Storyboard Creation: 

  • Students will create a storyboard for a scene from the short story, planning how they would adapt it into a film or multimedia project. 

  • They will identify tradeoffs, such as using a voiceover to convey character thoughts versus showing facial expressions or using music to set the mood.

• Presentation and Discussion: 

  • Groups present their storyboards and explain the tradeoffs they considered when adapting the scene. 

  • Class discussion will focus on the effects of technological choices on storytelling.

Equity and Access:

Provide students with pre-drawn characters or simple story templates to ensure all students can participate. Pair students with varied artistic skills for support.

Real-World Application:

Connect the lesson to careers in media and technology, where professionals must often choose between creativity and technical constraints, such as in video production, animation, or digital marketing.

CS Practice(s):

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students analyze the challenges of adapting a written story using technology, identifying tradeoffs in different multimedia techniques.

• Communicating about Computing: Students discuss the impacts of technological choices on storytelling and present their ideas to peers.

Standard(s):

• CA CCSS ELA-Literacy RL.7.7

• CA CS 6-8.IC.20

Objective: 

Students will create a multimedia adaptation of a scene from a short story, considering the tradeoffs of using various computing technologies to enhance storytelling.

Materials Needed:

• Computers with access to multimedia creation tools (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides, WeVideo)

• A short story or scene for adaptation

• Access to royalty-free images, videos, and sound clips

Steps:

• Introduction: 

  • Students discuss how technology has changed storytelling in both positive and negative ways. 

  • Show examples of how multimedia tools can enhance or limit a story, discussing tradeoffs such as ease of use vs. originality.

• Planning the Adaptation: 

  • In pairs, students choose a scene from a short story and plan how to adapt it using multimedia tools. 

  • They will make decisions about which elements to use—images, sound, text—and discuss the tradeoffs of those choices, such as using stock images versus creating their own.

• Multimedia Creation: 

  • Students will create their multimedia adaptations using PowerPoint or WeVideo. 

  • As they work, they will regularly reflect on their decisions and the tradeoffs they are encountering, such as balancing technical limitations with creativity.

• Presentation and Reflection: 

  • Students present their multimedia projects, explaining the tradeoffs they encountered during the creation process and how their technological choices impacted the final product. 

  • A class discussion will focus on how computing technology influences everyday activities like content creation.

Equity and Access:

Provide simple tutorials or pre-built templates for students unfamiliar with multimedia tools to ensure that all students can participate in the creation process.

Real-World Application:

Link the lesson to careers in content creation, advertising, and digital storytelling, where individuals regularly navigate tradeoffs between technology, creativity, and user experience.

CS Practice(s):

• Creating Computational Artifacts: Students use multimedia tools to create an adaptation of a story, making decisions about what technology to use and how to balance those choices.

• Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts: Students reflect on the challenges they faced during the project and how they adapted to technical or creative tradeoffs.

Standard(s):

• CA CCSS ELA-Literacy RL.7.7

• CA CS 6-8.IC.20