The use of interactive storytelling, cartoon animation and educational gaming to communicate the biblical message to preschool children

Dirk G Van Der Merwe

doi:10.4102/hts.v76i2.6074

Abstract

This article focuses on how biblical content and spiritualities can be communicated, probably more effectively, to (late) preschool children by using information technology, which has already been implemented successfully for years in secular and religious environments. Because children enjoy listening to stories, watching cartoons and playing every day, the approach in this research will be to propose a particular construct to communicate biblical content to preschool children. This construct comprises interactive storytelling, cartoon animation and educational gaming, which constitute a trilogy for teaching biblical content and principles to preschool children. This should be done interactively. These three approaches have become fundamental designs and presentations in child education. Churches, Christian nurseries and other Christian educators, in general, are encouraged to develop computer programs according to the construct and strategy proposed in this article for the teaching of the Gospel to late preschool children. The approach in this article will be, firstly, to examine and explore the religious orientation of preschool children and, secondly, to validate and propose how computer technology can be implemented to communicate the biblical content to preschool children via the trilogy of interactive storytelling, cartoon animation and educational gaming in an uninterrupted experience. Contribution: This article argues that the use of interactive storytelling, cartoon animation and educational gaming should be used consecutively and uninterruptedly to communicate the biblical message to preschool children. This is probably the most effective way to keep the attention of these children and to affect their conduct.

Highlights

Throughout human history certain technologies1 have become significant metaphors through which the sciences, philosophy, literature and theology of specific societies understood reality.2 Today’s computer technology can be regarded as the matrix in contemporary technology
The argument in this article is that an effective way of communicating biblical stories to preschool children is to start off with an animated e-character who is reading or telling the story from a paraphrase translation of the biblical text, which must closely relate the content of the cartoon animation of this story to follow
Bahrani & Sim 2012:56) and concept formation of the child. In light of these recommendations, the author of this article regards the fabrication of cartoon animations of large parts of the Bible necessary to communicate the biblical message to preschool children

Summary

Introduction

Throughout human history certain technologies1 have become significant metaphors through which the sciences, philosophy, literature and theology of specific societies understood reality.2 Today’s computer technology can be regarded as the matrix in contemporary technology. Their understanding of biblical stories carries a significance and equal importance for them conceptualising God. It is proposed that the following trilogy of communication can certainly influence their clarity, perception of the Bible and the development (even amendment) and formation of their concept of God. The following paradigm of communication, as proposed in this article, can facilitate them to understand these stories much better and sharper: it will be conducted in terms of interactive storytelling, cartoon animation and educational gaming.

Results

Conclusion