MARVIN: Changing the Art of the Storyteller Luke Bender Stephen Dudar Mapleton School

On the Menu… Introductions Information about MARVIN Demonstration A look behind the curtain –Scripting MARVIN content Opportunities and uses for MARVIN in Canada

Introductions Luke Bender – Grade 6 student at Mapleton School, Lord Selkirk School Division Stephen Dudar – Principal at Mapleton School, involved in education, ICT, business and administration

What is MARVIN? Portable digital storytelling and communication software Utilizing:  Animated avatars  Scripted actions  Sound – computer generated, voice and music files  Images – graphics, photos, powerpoint

We all have stories to tell… Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today. —Robert McKee If you tell me, it’s an essay. If you show me, it’s a story. —Barbara Greene In the end all we have…are stories and methods of finding and using those stories. —Roger C. Shank, from Tell Me A Story

Why MARVIN? Created in the Northern Territory of Australia - geographic challenges Philosophy of empowerment and ownership for local communities Create culturally specific and multi-lingual content for education and health training Powerful yet easy to learn and use

Why MARVIN? An innovative and engaging software platform used for distance delivery – customized content Inexpensive means of delivering content Adaptable and flexible –modified as need changes

See it for yourself…

MARVIN in Canada Opportunities for Education and Health through Microsoft Partners in Learning  Planned training for late May in Manitoba  licenses available – little to no cost A focus on our First Nations Peoples – content created by and delivered for target issues, for example:  Literacy, drug abuse, diabetes, cultural awareness, gangs, etc.

MARVIN in Canada Educational alternative for digital storytelling  Used in literature circles creating book trailers, etc.  Avatars are less threatening, safer role playing, consistent  Avoid having student pictures/video accessible – AUP  Easy to create, efficient use of time – focus on content not video editing or character creation process

Other Opportunities Expertise required for avatar creation using 3D Image software – Maya  Specific cultural needs  Training and job opportunities open - Health, Education, Government… Content creation Training Support Open to the imagination! (training videos, book talks, lesson delivery…)

MARVIN requirements MARVIN’S MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS  Microsoft Windows 2000 and above  A Pentium III 550-megahertz (MHz) PC or faster  At least 256 megabytes (MB) of RAM  At least 181 MB free disk space for the core components  An additional 8-12 MB free disk space typically for each character you install RECOMMENDED REQUIREMENTS  Microsoft Windows XP (VISTA version available)  A Pentium III 1- gigahertz (GHz) PC or faster  At least 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM  At least 181 MB free disk space for the core components  An additional 8-12 MB free disk space typically for each character you install.  A Windows compatible sound card  A set of speakers  A microphone

More information about MARVIN? MARVIN website:  OR  Contact via