ArenA

The ArenA project was set up to investigate how creative approaches can be used to develop technological fluency within communities.

The project was designed to develop an online resource to encourage learning, specifically for the Greater Pollok community. Through a process of creative research methods and community consultation, StoryBox, a resource for creating and viewing stories, was designed.

The Site

• ArenA StoryBox now live

The Films

Other Films

• ArenA flicks

Process

The ArenA team designed an innovative engagement programme to explore the area and identify local needs. Creative techniques such as cultural probes were used to gather different types of information such as people’s interests and experiences.

To expand this process, a core group of local people were invited to work with professional filmmakers to produce a range of individual stories in the form of fifteen high quality 2min films. This series of visual stories and collective memory was interpreted to form StoryBox.

Working with a design team and user group of local people, the ArenA team undertook the building of the StoryBox to extend and encourage innovation in a shared online narrative.

Where are we now?

StoryBox has now been launched with a bank of content created by local people. It contains a wealth of video, text, picture and audio stories which come from memories, opinions, rants and raves.

Users of StoryBox stem from the casual browser to those who engage with StoryBox through workshop activity to help develop their media and IT literacy. In addition to capturing stories that are often lost in everyday life, StoryBox it is a tool that can be incorporated into a wide range of learning contexts.

StoryBox in its original form is aimed at adults; however, ULS is currently adapting it for new audiences and contexts.