Multimedia Storytelling and Collaborative Gaming: Transmedia Pedagogies for Active and Collaborative Learning

While there has been an increase in the use of multimedia technology in higher education, it is imperative to develop effective ways that integrate multimedia contents and innovative teaching methods for achieving active and collaborative learning, especially in the face of emerging teaching challenges amid the Covid-19 pandemic. This project expands on two transmedia pedagogies, namely multimedia storytelling and collaborative gaming, to enhance student learning through engagement with multimedia contents. Our team has developed a series of multimedia-enabled learning activities, ranging from comic co-creation to scenario-based role-playing and edublogging. These activities work synergistically to encourage student involvement and promote in-class interaction. They provide opportunities for students to share and learn with each other in various convergence media environments. Exploring the pedagogical potentials of digital technologies and multimedia platforms available at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, this project has been implemented and assessed with a large-size CAR subject – APSS1B17 Contemporary Chinese Society and Popular Culture – benefiting 400 students a year since 2020.