What Does StoryTech Do?
Bringing stories to life with technology
Project-Based Learning has long played an important role in education. In the past, students might have been asked to make a poster, write a book report or create a shoebox diorama as a way to engage more deeply with a given topic. StoryTech provides exciting new options for students to tell the stories of history, culture, science, or almost any subject using advanced entertainment technologies. The point is storytelling. But along the way, students learn a variety of tech skills, coming to see these as tools for creative expression.
Animatronics is the art and science of storytelling with talking robots. Traditionally the exclusive purview of highly trained artists and engineers (Disney calls them "Imagineers"), StoryTech makes animatronics accessible to students of all ages. Our kits let students bring their papercraft to life with synchronized sound, motion, and lights. They literally talk - allowing true narrative storytelling. From very simple kits that let very young kids drive a paper puppet with their voice, to kits that incorporate programming for complex, pre-scripted shows with many lights and actuators - we have something for every age.
What Does Paper Animatronics Look Like?
Paper animatronics is a great way for students to explore a subject in depth. In this example, the assignment was to study bees. Of course, who knows more about bees than bears!
Supporting Teachers
Could an Art or English teacher with no expertise in robotics successfully incorporate animatronics into their classroom? YES! Our introductory kits can be mastered within minutes by almost anyone. If you have basic paper crafting skills, you're ready to make paper animatronics. We provide lots of examples, tutorials, and additionally run hands-on workshops across Canada. More questions? We are here for you, with email and live phone support plans available.
Applied Whimsy, Supported By Science
We empower students to create marvelous things. It's serious fun. But there's also serious science behind it. StoryTech was formed to support the research efforts of the University of Toronto Department of Computer Science in leveraging the power of physical computing in the classroom. Our kits and programs are extensively tested and the results are published in major academic conferences. Our partners include education researchers at both the University of British Columbia, and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). We also work with NGOs such as Taking IT Global, and the Center for Civic Innovation at Notre Dame University to reach remote and underserved communities.
Our Products and Services
StoryTech has a growing range of parts and kits that make it easy for students to create their own storytelling projects.