Creating a Digital Storybook: Edjop: A Child of the Storm by Ed Maranan

Abstract

Digital storybooks have started emerging in today’s classrooms as a result of modern technology. Numerous studies were conducted to assess their impact as a tool for learning. With references to such studies, this practice-based research project was conceptualized to develop a digital book that can be instrumental in popularizing historical stories suitable for young students. The digital storybook features Edgar “Edjop” Jopson and the plight he experienced during Martial Law.

This digital version was based on Edgar Maranan’s picture storybook, Edjop: A Child of the Storm. The design process for developing the digital storybook included the following: cross-referencing of online articles and a movie about Edjop; creating illustrations, audio recording for both the original English and Filipino versions, website creation, and collaboration with the educators of the target audience.

Research results revealed that the majority of the teachers who evaluated the digital storybook agreed that the whole digital book is a suitable medium for 6th-grade learners. There was a balance of different elements: layout, illustration, color, and audio, which are appropriate for the story. They strongly agreed that digital storybooks can facilitate not only the learning of Martial Law but also other topics for sixth graders. Likewise, the digital storybook was reviewed through the “Think Aloud” protocol. The findings showed that changes in illustration color (notably of the book cover) and the removal of Soundcloud links per paragraph can vastly improve the product homepage. There was a recommendation to create an offline version of the digital storybook to address accessibility issues.