Professor Andrew Manches took part in the Children's Media Conference, 4-6th July 2023, sharing his research insights into the use of gestures to design more effective children’s media. An event recording and blog about the session are now available.
Abstract
Ever wondered why you spontaneously move your hands when explaining ideas to children? Research over the last twenty years has revealed the significance of these gestures: they provide a window into our minds. The University of Edinburgh has led a 5-year international partnership project to examine the role of gestures in early learning (3-6 years). The studies have explored two exciting ways that gestures support children’s learning, as they help children express what they understand and help adults communicate ideas to them. This session will share some of the many insights and illustrative videos from this project, with guidelines for how to design more effective learning technologies and how to consider the use of gestures in live action and animation for children.
Find out more
'Understadning Kids 5 and 6' blog by Megan Bryant