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- Chris Firth - DIGITAL AND CREATIVE WRITING CONSULTANT
| In 2003, after displaying stories in electronic formats via a digital projector in schools and libraries, Chris was commissioned by the largest whiteboard distributer in the UK, Promethean Ltd, to produce a series of stories, poems and educational activities in Promethean board-software, (Activstudio). The project was a unique creative venture. It involved commissioning work from six artists and photographers, musicians and a sound recordist.It was also a steep learning curve, with Chris having to learn from scratch how to use Promethean's Activstudio Paintshop Pro 7, digital photography and sound recording systems. The design, image, spacing and visual appeal of every single story frame had to be considered – and then, of course, there was the text. The 5 stories on the CD (‘The Mulgrave Tales') were designed to appeal to teenage readers, but as a writer Chris wanted them to have literary appeal and credibility – to be an entertaining read but also to stretch readers with a variety of sentence structures, literary effects and stimulating vocabulary. |
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- The stories were recently described by one reviewer as ‘delicious literary horror’, and are guaranteed to grip any reader from first page to last in a single sitting. The CD has a Teacher Folder to match the inter-active exercises that accompany the stories to the National Literacy Strategy and the National Curriculum for English. The stories include sound files, web-links, hyper-linked educational activities and stunning digital artwork.
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- The tales are currently being updated and re-branded as 'The Tales of Dark Hill Woods' for Cable Educational Ltd.
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- Digital and Creative Writing Workshops
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Chris has worked closely with Promethean representatives and educational consultants on the digital story project. At Promethean's request, he has participated in ‘best practice' days, training English teachers in the preparation o f interactive materials for English. |
- His skills as a writer, teacher and Promethean board practitioner make him an ideal INSET trainer for teachers wanting to improve their board skills and learn how to quickly prepare flip-charts that can be used in the classroom. He has also run highly successful young people’s digital and creative writing programmes for North Yorkshire Count Council libraries, Egglescliffe School in Stockton on Tees (web link) and Canon Lee School, York and Nab Wood Grammar School (summer school), Bradford.
- Chris is available for:
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- - readings and displays of his published work
- - writing workshops with pupils of all Key Stages and age groups
- - digital writing workshops for pupils, teachers, community groups
- - staff training in the use of creative and practical digital technology and interactive whiteboards
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- Graphic fine artists working in traditional and digital formats are also
- available for digital workshops, courtesy of Archetype Design
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- With story-teller, harpist, Whitby Ghost Walker and musician Michael
- Wray, Chris has developed a story performance and digital workshop
- package which received Art Council Funding to tour the libraries of
- North Yorkshire, UK Literature Festivals and the Whitby Musicport
- Festival in 2003/4. This finely honed and entertaining workshop is
- available for schools and literary events.
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- For further information and the costs of INSET training, workshops and performances please telephone mobile 07816 547611
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- email Chris at electraglade@aol.com
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