Shells

From SPARK

What are Shells?

Summary

Visual, print and audio components used to develop new media products.

The Shell concept is an approach for utilizing visuals and audio components. It strives to develop media tools in a variety of media formats. Carolyn Dyk produced visual art to enhance Scripture. As a result, we could immediately see that many products and applications could be produced from “Shell” templates and images.

Why use Shells?

Vernacular media strategies are continually planned, developed, and implemented in various language programs. In the process, a number of factors need to be carefully considered. Factors include, but are not limited to, worldview, culture, cost, production time, media awareness, and availability. These factors vary among language groups. There must be, therefore, one of two essential elements of approval. One essential could be approval to adapt existing media products. Another essential could be approval to develop new products to produce appropriate media.

How are shells being developed?

Why use still visuals?

• Still visuals are viewable for an indefinite length of time. When used to develop media tools, viewing time of the visual is adjusted to the text. This preserves the message. This is an advantage over some existing video products. It is difficult to translate scripts to fit time frames of scenes without sacrificing the message.

Sources of still visuals

• Non Digital

a. Photographs (existing, produce your own)

b. Illustrations (existing, produce locally)

c. Slides (existing, produce your own)

d. Filmstrips (existing, produce your own)

e. Books

Note: Existing products may have limitations such as copyright permissions, cultural appropriateness, etc.

• Digital

a. Scanned images come from many possible sources. Sources may include slides, filmstrips, photographs, books, and illustrations.

Note: Existing products may have limitations such as copyright permissions or cultural appropriateness.

b. Digital photographs are an advance in the digital camera industry. Digital pictures are an excellent and easy source of digitized still visuals. A still camera can create digitized still visuals to develop vernacular media tools. This has a number of benefits. For example, you can:

• Eliminate the copyright issues for use
• Develop culturally appropriate visuals (promotes local ownership)
• Easily and economically produce visuals
• Easily update current visuals and add new ones

Audio components

1. The message that accompanies the visuals. This may be:

• Live audio while using flipcharts, filmstrips, etc.
• Recorded audio for use on audio cassette, videocassette, VCD, DVD, etc.

2. Music (optional)

• Background music
• A song to tell or reinforce the story

3. Sound effects (optional)

• Recorded locally
• Purchased, licensed material

Media options for using the visual and audio components:

1. Audio cassette or CD

• Audio recording of the message
• Will require a means and skill to record, edit, and duplicate the audio cassettes or CDs
• Will require a power source (Option – Hand crank tape player if using audio cassette)

2. Flipchart

• Color or black & white visuals printed in a viewable size appropriate for the size of the audience
• Produced locally or outsourced
• Some sort of protection from the elements is recommended (i.e. lamination, clear page covers)
• The audio could be live or recorded
• Requires a power source if using recorded audio (Option – Hand crank tape player)

3. Slides

• Existing or produced locally
• 35mm camera and slide film if producing locally
• Slide projector, some type of screen
• The audio could be live or recorded
• Requires a power source for the projector and if using recorded audio (Option – Hand crank tape player)

4. Filmstrip

• Existing or produced locally
• 35mm camera and slide film if producing locally
• Filmstrip projector, some type of screen
• The audio could be live or recorded
• Requires a power source for the projector and if using recorded audio (Option – Hand crank tape player)

5. Shell book

• Color or black & white visuals
• Layout and printing capabilities to produce the shell books
• The audio could be live or recorded onto an accompanying audiocassette or CD and used as a read-along
• Requires a power source if using recorded audio (Option – Hand crank tape player)

6. Presentation (OpenOffice.org 2.0 [.sxi]

• Color or black & white visuals inserted into individual frames of a presentation
• Will require a computer, Presentation software, and an understanding of and skill in using the presentation program
• Will require a means of projecting the presentation to the audience (i.e. projector, screen, monitor, etc.)
• The audio could be live or recorded and inserted at the appropriate places in the presentation
• Requires a power source to run the computer, monitor, and speakers (if using recorded audio)

7. Video (Videocassette, VCD, DVD)

• Color or black & white visuals inserted into video program
• Will require a computer, video software, and an understanding of and skill in using the video program
• Will require a means and skill to record and edit the audio for the video
• Will require a CD/DVD burner or a VCR to make the master copy for duplication
• Will require a means to duplicate
• Will require a means of projecting the presentation to the audience (i.e. projector, screen, television monitor, etc.)
• Requires a power source

Review:

• Carefully consider the key factors needed to achieve the intended purpose of a media product. This is especially important when planning, developing, and implementing media strategies in a language program.
• Key factors vary among language groups. Therefore, adapting existing media products or developing new products is essential.It produces appropriate media tools while preserving the Biblical content.
• The Shell concept is one media approach in addressing the key factors. Still visuals and audio components help media tools develop in a variety of media formats.