Tuning creativity through eCartooning: a successful blended learning process

Abstract

This paper considers the issues of how to augment student creativity in the blended learning environment of Internet-based digital cartooning or eCartooning and, secondly, the eCartooning characteristics required in implementing such a learning project. The phrase, “Internet-based digital cartooning or eCartooning” refers to online applications which provide the scope for creating, developing, editing, sharing and distributing cartoon stories on the Internet. “ToonDoo” was selected as a pilot web application for this quasi experimental research because of its flexibility and potentiality. The population was all graduate students studying at a selected university in Bangkok, Thailand. The data collecting instruments were 1) an online creativity self-assessment 2) tutorials of eCartooning and 3) a survey of opinions about using eCartooning. The data were analyzed using means, percentiles and paired-samples t-tests. The findings were described both in qualitative and quantitative format. On comparing pre- and post-test scores of creativity, it was found that the creativity scores increased after using eCartooning for two months. The features of web 2.0 technology which were integrated with ToonDoo have significantly generated this form of blended learning.