I am so pleased to see that the newest episode of Inanimate Alice is now out for download, and here’s why.
I was a fan of the first few episodes of Inanimate Alice, and used it with groups of kids, promoting discussions about eSafety and digital making (of games). Since then, I have watched the story evolve along with the technology that surrounds us.
Looking back at the previous episodes, it is notable how little of the tech has dated, and how meaningful and soulful the story of Alice continues to be. This most recent iteration brings Alice to the end of her teens, and sees her scrabbling with adulthood, her past and the changing world around her. And of course, there is an adventure ahead of Alice.
A few years back I worked with the team behind Alice, to explore how they could sustain their support for schools. The whole project did not really start as a resource for schools, and yet it has been jumped upon by thousands of teachers and kids all over the world. Though they always intended to create something relevant to young people, the Inanimate Alice creative team were mostly driven by the urge to share Alice’s story – using transmedia storytelling.
Although there has been support and funding from people like Arts Council England, the sheer numbers of teachers all over the world using these stories to promote thinking about digital life, and creativity with their kids has necessitated a shift in the way this wonderful resource is funded. There are amazing resources on their website for educators, well worth checking out.
So, this latest episode costs a few quid. Considering the care, creativity and commitment to their audience, I think this is great value for money. And, of course, the previous five episodes are all still free!
If you’ve never checked it out, or used Inanimate Alice with your students, I’d urge you to explore it together. Yes, there are lesson plans, and ideas for making it fit into your curriculum. But, try just engaging with this amazing story with your students – and watch the connections and discussions burst out.
Congratulations to the Inanimate Alice team for another amazing piece of digital making.