Filmstreet

Working with First Light and Atticmedia in the development of the Filmstreet website for 6-9 year olds. 

"CHILDWISE worked closely with us from the initial development stages of the Filmstreet website, showing commitment and understanding of the project.  They were able to respond flexibly and speedily to our research needs.  Their expertise and experience in working with children meant they were a tremendous asset to the project"
Sue Todd, Arts + Media Consultancy, Project Manager for Filmstreet


FILMSTREET_TITLE

Initial exploratory research

  • This looked at children's perceptions of film and film making, and their interest in a dedicated website.  We carried out a series of workshop sessions, in which children took part in film making activities - stop-frame animation, creating and filming short drama sequences, writing story boards, and editing film.  We observed children in action, to find out which aspects they most enjoyed, and to discover their capabilities.
  • We also talked with parents, teachers, and those involved in film-related activities for kids, to discover more about what a film site could and should offer.

Development research

  • This was ongoing, providing input at each stage as the site was built.  We used a combination of groups and friendship pairs, observing children as they tried out test versions of the site, and talking with them about their experiences.
  • Because of the relatively young age group, much of this was unexplored territory, in particular relating to children's ability to work online.
  • The research included work with dyslexic and partially sighted children, to ensure wider accessibility.

User testing

  • The final phase of the research involved children from schools across the country, who had the opportunity to visit the site in its final stages of development and give us their feedback.  They were able to post messages to the site, and submit film clips, generating a buzz of excitement when they saw their input on the site.