Designing typozilla : an online application that appeals to gifted children : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

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dc.contributor.authorBlachnitzky, Angela
dc.date.accessioned2010-04-13T02:09:10Z
dc.date.availableNO_RESTRICTIONen_US
dc.date.available2010-04-13T02:09:10Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.description.abstractThis thesis responds to the specific educational and social needs of gifted children within the context of online applications. Online enrichment activities and social opportunities are only successful if they are able to attract and sustain attention of the advanced interests of gifted children. The aim of the research is to design an online application that appeals to gifted children and recognises the identified intellectual and social needs within the New Zealand context. This was achieved through research through design by establishing a design strategy that uses the findings of investigations and applies them to a prototype application. Developers of online content for gifted children may benefit from this research. As an initial investigation a survey was conducted about how gifted New Zealand primary school children are using online applications. It was assumed following the literature review that online applications would appeal to gifted children if they teach a new skill, have multiplayer functionality and address higher order thinking skills. Basic design characteristics of the most popular gaming websites amongst gifted children (from the survey) were then used to inform the design strategy and to develop the prototype online application typozilla. Key findings were retrieved through observation of gifted children using typozilla. The majority of children observed were especially enthusiastic seeing other players’ avatars within multiplayer areas and competing against each other. They enjoyed learning a new skill (which was touch-typing) and engaging in creative tasks. In interviews all gifted children confirmed that they perceived the typozilla design as appealing.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/1241
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectEducational games designen_US
dc.subjectTypewritingen_US
dc.subjectGifted childrenen_US
dc.subjectTypingen_US
dc.subjectTypozillaen_US
dc.subject.otherFields of Research::410000 The Arts::410300 Cinema, Electronic Arts and Media Studiesen_US
dc.titleDesigning typozilla : an online application that appeals to gifted children : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealanden_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
massey.contributor.authorBlachnitzky, Angela
thesis.degree.disciplineDesignen_US
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Design (M.Des.)en_US
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