Guest post written by Mark Trewinnard of Woodfield School.

During a recent trial of using stop motion animation in an English lesson with our special needs students, the HUE HD Pro camera proved to be a resounding success. This novel approach, offering a fresh and highly engaging alternative to traditional learning methods, captivated the students from the outset.

The hands-on nature of creating characters, using simple set designs, and meticulously moving objects for each frame fostered a deep level of engagement. Students who sometimes struggle with conventional written tasks found a new, accessible avenue for expressing their understanding of narrative, character development, and plot sequencing.

We had tried to plan the stories in a previous lesson, but the students appeared to be more interested in the ‘freestyle’ and improvising their stories. We used simple pictures printed off the internet for the background and a variety of Lego and Playmobil figures, as well as cars and animals to create the story. 

Crucially, the activity promoted essential skills such as teamwork (working in 2s and 3s), problem-solving, and patience. Students discussed ideas, negotiated roles, and overcame technical challenges together. The immediate visual feedback of their work developing frame by frame was incredibly motivating.

Overall, the stop motion lesson was a highly effective and thoroughly enjoyable experience for the students. Its success demonstrates the significant benefits of incorporating diverse and creative technologies to enhance learning outcomes and boost confidence within our special needs provision. Since this trial, we have decided to invest in more cameras and add a stop motion element to our English curriculum as well as use it within computing. 

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