Toontastic at Burke's School

Launchpad Toys  /  San Francisco, CA / Spring 2011

A video highlighting how a Spanish language class at Burke's School in San Francisco, CA uses Toontastic, a creative storytelling app for the iPad, to practice dialogue and writing. The teachers discuss the ways the app and other media technologies have transformed not just foreign language learning, but more importantly, creative thinking and storytelling. (Created while interning at LaunchPad Toys).

"If I had it my way, every single teacher would be integrating technology more... letting the girls tell their own stories."
-- Marilyn Schaumburg, Technology Teacher, Burke's School

creative direction

I was inspired by the stories that the teachers at Burkes School shared. The concept of utilizing storytelling as more than a mere communication tool is close to my heart. I aimed to build the video's storyline around the idea that storytelling has a place in language learning, literature, and the humanities. Moreover, I wanted to showcase that the Toontastic iPad app is not just designed for young children, but it is a flexible tool that teachers can adapt and customize for their classrooms' needs. By using a tablet-based application, teachers are finding new ways to engage and motivate students both inside and outside the classroom.