Video Storybooks for KidsClassical education found children engaging with storybooks on a strictly impersonal level. The advent of the personal computer and subsequent evolutions to the tablet and smart-phone applications has given rise to interactive video storybooks. These technological advances have changed the educational experience for children and students. What they are Video storybooks are a form of storytelling utilizing basic animation sequences accompanied with a story narration. These video storybooks are often delivered via tablet (due to the storybook's program size) or personal computer. The video storybook communicates the story via narration and is usually accompanied with the text version of the story's narration allowing students to read along as the story unfolds. Complex video storybooks are interactive as well offering activities or offering the reader decision making abilities that determine the overall conclusion of the story. How video storybooks are beneficial Video storybooks enhance the learning ability and have an impact on several levels. Video storybooks are unique in their presentation delivery allowing the written word to be associated with the spoken word. Research has found this method of language exposure facilitates an enhanced language acquisition experience. Adding greater enhancers such as movement and music allows for an even greater language acquisition experience Video storybooks also facilitate overall literacy exposing students, particularly young students, to the written and spoken word combination. This influence, similar to the language acquisition experience, is shown to greatly enhance a student's reading comprehension. Video storybooks also represent a greater understanding of delivery, offering young students an accessible story in terms better suited to their technological environment. Though studies continue to contradict one another on impact the simple fact remains the digital age is an age of movement and of images. Video storybooks manage to capture the majesty of the story within the capsule of a moving, narrated video. Video storybooks have the opportunity to capture a child's attention and hold it longer than a traditional storybook with static pictures can. Tapping into the brain's ability to hold multiple sources of sensory input facilitates a stronger memory response than traditional storybooks and can be used to impart deeper social impacts such as behavior modification and critical thinking skills. Using new technology Video storybooks should not be considered a lazy method of teaching. Teachers accepting this new method of delivery should consider pioneering methods to facilitate appropriate feedback. Discussions regarding story or concept impact should be conducted to properly gauge the video storybook's effectiveness. Not only will this feedback galvanize newly acquired skills and concepts it firmly anchors developing minds to initiate and interact with one another as well as the instructors involved sharing viewpoints and reflection. |