Editing Research/new digital reading experiences (section)

== ELECTIVE: IMMERSIVE READING ==

To kick off the second Elective, we presented our research and our prototypes. This included findings from the first phase, but the emphasis was on the concept of immersive reading and the treatment of text on video-based social media. We asked students for two things: to do research and to create a prototype.

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=== Research ===

We asked them to research along one of the following themes:

* Content
* Screen-based typography
* Voice and sounds
* Motion
* Interactivity
* Background visuals

We then provided them with a template that they could use to document their research.

[IMAGEs: research posters from students]

The students brought many interesting aspects to our attention. All the information was shared in a public folder, so all participants could lear from each other’s findings.

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===  ===

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=== Prototype ===

Students were asked to create a digital reading experience: the prototype should include a minimum of one paragraph of text, motion and /or interactivity and a carefully considered typography.<br />
They were free to choose a text of their own, but we also provided them with some choices. Their design choices should align with the experience they wish to create.

Most students choose to use Adobe After Effects for their prototypes, since there was less emphasis on interactivity and more on the synthesis of sound and text.

[IMAGES+LINKS TO STUDENTS PROJECTS]

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=== Results ===

Like in the previous Elective, the resulting projects were diverse and surprising. Some students chose their own pieces of text and designed them in a way that engaged with the content, while others experimented with new interaction patterns or novel reading experiences that function independently of content. Their research was equally eclectic, and it was quite surprising to see what sources they were accessing, particularly on social media, that are simply invisible to us as teachers. Overall, we were very inspired by the new insights and perspectives that students were able to present in just one week.

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