Create Multimedia Interactive Stories to Fight Ageism!

Are you an older adult who is interested in telling stories? Are you comfortable with computers, and interested in learning new ways to use technology to create exciting multimedia content? Would you like to tell stories that change people’s minds about what older adults are capable of? If you answered yes, please read on!

We are conducting a research project to explore the effects that creating interactive stories (stories with alternative endings) can have on older adults’ perceptions about aging. Interactive stories are narratives that have multiple possible branches and endings (like a choose-your-own adventure book!). In our study, we will teach you how to create interactive stories using a common piece of software you are already familiar with: Microsoft PowerPoint. The aim of our study is to explore the feasibility of engaging older adults in creating interactive stories with Microsoft PowerPoint, with a focus on stories about internalized ageism. We want to find out if this is an anti-ageism intervention that older adults find engaging and creativity-enabling.

Investigators:

Dr. Celine Latulipe
Principal Investigator, Department of Computer Science
celine.latulipe@umanitoba.ca

Emmanuel Segun-Lean
Co-Investigator, Department of Computer Science
segunlee@myumanitoba.ca

You are invited to participate in a study featuring about older adults using Microsoft PowerPoint to create interactive stories about negative ageist experiences. The study is focused on the feasibility of using Microsoft PowerPoint as part of an interactive story-telling anti-ageism intervention. We are also interested in exploring  whether learning to use PowerPoint for interactive storytelling supports older adult creativity and/or increases older adults feelings of technical competency. Results from this study may inform the development of other anti-ageism interventions and the development of digital creativity support tools targeted at older adults.

Study Details

This study involves two in-person workshops held on separate days at the University of Manitoba (Fort Garry Campus), with 3–8 older adult participants working together in session.

Workshop 1: Storyboarding

The first session begins with a brief tutorial on interactive storytelling and an introduction to ageism. We will also show a demonstration of a paper storyboard and a resulting PowerPoint interactive story created from that storyboard to help participants understand what they are trying to create. Participants will then use paper and writing materials to create storyboards about negative experiences, based on personal or second-hand experiences. This session will last approximately 1 hour.

Workshop 2: Digital Story Creation

In the second session, we will teach participants how to use Microsoft PowerPoint to create interactive stories with different possible endings.  Participants will then work together on computers that we provide to create their own interactive stories based on the storybaords they created in Session 1. In the last 30 minutes, participants will get to share what they have made with each other during a casual “show-and-tell” period with the group. This session will last approximately 2 hours.

Workshop Dates

We will hold three sets of workshops. You will be asked on the consent form to let us know which workshop set(s) work for your schedule. The three workshop sets are:

Workshop Set A: Tuesday Jan 13th, 11am – 12pm AND Thursday Jan 15th, 10am – 12pm
Workshop Set B: Tuesday Jan 20th, 1-2pm AND Thursday Jan 22nd, 1-3pm
Workshop Set C: Monday Feb 2nd, 2-3pm AND Wednesday Feb 4th, 2-4pm
Workshop Set D: Tuesday Feb 10th, 3-4pm AND Thursday Feb 12th, 10am-noon

Compensation

There is no cost to participate in this study. As a token of appreciation for your time, you will receive compensation for each part of the study you complete:

    • Workshop 1: $15 (Amazon gift card)
    • Workshop 2: $30 (Amazon gift card)
    • Optional Follow-up Interview (online via Zoom): $10 (e-transfer)

Eligibility

Participation in this study is voluntary. We are seeking individuals who meet the following criteria:

    • Must be 65 years and above.
    • Must be able to communicate in English.
    • Must have basic computer skills.
    • Must have used Microsoft PowerPoint in the past.

There is a minimal risk of emotional distress caused by recollecting negative incidents of age discrimination for participants of this study. We will minimize this risk by giving participants the option of coming up with fictional scenarios to base their interactive story on. The indirect benefit of taking part in this study would be contributing to the development of digital anti-ageism interventions, and the development of creativity support tools that are usable by older adults. A direct benefit of participating in this study is that participants who engage in the story creation activity may find it therapeutic and will learn a new digital skill (using PowerPoint to create interactive stories that can be shared with others).

If you are interested in participating in this study, please follow the link below to provide consent. Once a completed consent form has been received, we will contact you to schedule the first workshop session.

This research has been approved by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Manitoba, Fort Garry campus. If you have any concerns or complaints about this project, you may contact any of the above-named researchers or the Human Ethics Coordinator at 204-474-7122 or humanethics@umanitoba.ca.

You can ask questions about this study by emailing Emmanuel Segun-Lean at segunlee@myumanitoba.ca or Dr. Celine Latulipe at celine.latulipe@umanitoba.ca

Consent Form

Link to consent form: Consent form

Research Summary

Will be posted here after study and analysis are complete.