There's an APP for that

What would happen if you phone were taken away from you for the weekend? Would that impact your life? In what way? What are the top three apps/functions of your phone you would miss the most?

It's your turn

Share your blog idea with the class. What will your blog be about? Will it be fictional or non-fictional? What is the look you have in mind? What are some of your post ideas? Which social media websites do you plan on incorporating into the blog?And finally, add the link to your blog.

Can Video Games Be Never Art?

Watch the TED Talk below and read this article to get a perspective on both sides of a long-standing argument and share your opinion on the value of video games for society.

All the News That's Fit to Print

How do you keep up with the news? What are your favorite means of receiving information? What do you look for in your news outlets, and how do you choose from the overwhelming amount of information available out there?

Digital Storytelling for Promotion and Advertising

Think of one of our favorite products or services (something you often use, or recommend to all your friends) and do some investigating on what kind of advertising and promotion they currently use to attract a target audience. What kind of interactive, digital storytelling means do they use?

Spring Break!

How will you utilize interactive media to communicate over the break? Give multiple examples and explain. 

PRIMETIME TRANSMEDIA

Think of your favorite television show or series. Do some research and describe any transmedia elements associated with it. For instance, take a look at Downton Abbey's homepage and all that it offers. Does your chosen show have a fictional website? Do the characters have their own social media accounts? Can you participate in the story through the internet?

Interactive Films

What's the idea behind an interactive transmedia film?

What's the premise of HBO's Voyeur?

What's the premise of High Rise, the documentary?

What are some interactive elements you found in both High Rise and HBO's Voyeur?

What are your overall thoughts on both projects?

Transmedia storytelling

Do you ever participate in a digital conversation when watching television or a movie? Can you think of an example of when you've done that? Or if you haven't, can you think of an example where you could digitally interact?

SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR FUTURE

For today's blog, take inventory of your life as portrayed on the internet. Have you ever googled your name? What kind of story are you telling through your social media profiles? Do you think your social media presence might affect your future, especially when it comes to employment? Why or why not? If so, what changes do you need to implement in order to create a more cohesive, intentional online story?

ALL ABOUT THAT PLOT

Think of the last movie or TV episode you watched and briefly describe its plot; in other words, the sequence of main events.

CHARACTERS

Who is one of your all-time favorite characters? Think back to your childhood, or your current life, whether from movies, books, or oral narratives told by someone. And makes this character so special  and memorable to you?

Superbowl Storytelling

Did you watch the commercials during the SuperBowl? If you didn't, take a look at superbowlcommercials2016.org and select one brand you believe was the best at telling an interactive story to the public. Explain your reasoning.

Interactive Narrative Brainstorming

As we start preparing for our first big project of the semester, take some time to brainstorm on potential means of storytelling - whether through a blog, social media (think beyond Facebook to Steller and Periscope instead), a video game, interactive film, or even VR. Think of what genre of story you would like to tell, and share below.

THE TECHNOLOGY OF STORYTELLING

Watch Joe Sabia and his use of different technological devices to tell a story. What are some of your favorite digital channels of storytelling at the moment? Is it blogging? Video games? Interactive film? Which ones are you interested in learning more about? Which one(s) you'd like to use for our upcoming writing projects?

Take a look at these kids' reactions to old computers. What is your earliest memory of a digital world? Was it a toy? A music player? A computer? Describe the device and how it shaped your life. 

Storytelling

Before we discuss the origins and history of storytelling, I'd like you to briefly describe your favorite story. Tell us whether it was from your childhood, or it was a recently discovered story.  Is there interactivity? Suspense? An element of magic? Did you receive it through traditional or digital media? Does it follow a chronological timeline? What about the story makes it so memorable to you?

The Elusive Creative Genius

Where do you think creativity comes from? Do you agree with Gilbert? What do you do when you need to create? Do you feel pressure and how do you overcome it?