Experimentation

The STORYCODE project experimentation is designed to assess the impact of educational practices in narrative coding, which emphasize computational and narrative thinking in STEAM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) within both kindergarten and primary school settings. This assessment aims to understand how narrative coding practices influence both the methodology and the learning outcomes of educational activities focused on integrating computational and narrative STEAM concepts.

In Section 1 below, you will find a summary of the experimental phases of the STORYCODE project. The research project has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital de Getafe (Madrid), Spain (CEIm24_85, dated October 23, 2024).

In Section 2 below, you will find various assessment tools tailored for students, teachers, and legal guardians to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the participating children from multiple perspectives. These tools are available in several languages, including Spanish, Italian, Lithuanian, and Dutch for the Netherlands.

In Section 3 below, you will find an outline of the Digital Narrative Coding Lab structure for kindergarten and primary school. This structure has been carefully designed for collaborative use by students, their peers, and their teachers, ensuring that the integration of computational and narrative STEAM thinking is both effective and engaging throughout the school year. A first version of the lab, Version 1.0, was initially developed for kindergarten and primary school. This early iteration has been subsequently expanded and refined into a more advanced and extended version for primary school, Version 2.0, which has evolved on the basis of the experiences and research conducted with Version 1.0. Below, you will find a detailed description of Version 2.0.

RESEARCH ETHICS REGULATION

Research Ethics Regulation. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital Universitario de Getafe (Madrid, Spain) with the reference number CEIm24_85 as of October 23, 2024.
Principal Investigator. Dr. Giuseppe Iandolo, Universidad Europea de Madrid.
Study Title. Impact of the Narrative Coding Lab STORYCODE on Computational, Narrative, and Collaborative Reasoning Skills in Early Childhood and Primary Education.
Sponsors. Universidad Europea de Madrid (Spain), Fundación Educativa Francisco Coll (Spain), Scuola Ladina di Fassa (Italy), Computer Learning (Italy), STRIPES Onlus (Italy), Learning Hub Friesland (Netherlands), Kauno Simono Daukanto progimnazija (Lithuania), European Commission (Erasmus+).
Contact Information. For any inquiries, please write to info@storycode.eu. The data controller is Giuseppe Iandolo, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid (Spain). Email: giuseppe.iandolo@universidadeuropea.es or call +34 913 230 839.

1. STORYCODE RESEARCH PHASES - VERSION 2.0

The STORYCODE study procedure includes seven phases:

Phase 1. Identification of participants, collection of informed consent, and initial assessment of participants through the STORYCODE assessment tools for students, teachers, and legal guardians.
Phase 2. Assignment of participants to the experimental (with Storycode Digital Narrative Coding Lab) and control conditions (without Storycode Narrative Coding Lab).
Phase 3. Implementation of the standard protocol of fifteen sessions in the Storycode Digital Narrative Coding Lab 2.0 (experimental group)/without Storycode Narrative Coding Lab (control group). [Evaluation of the groups' collaboration during sessions 5, 10, and 15 of the Digital Narrative Coding Lab by the teacher] & [Evaluation of the students' satisfaction with the Digital Narrative Coding Lab during session 15 by the students].
Phase 4. Midterm assessment of participants through the STORYCODE assessment tools for students, teachers, and legal guardians.
Phase 5. Switching participants between the experimental and control conditions.
Phase 6. Storycode Digital Narrative Coding Lab 2.0 (experimental group)/no narrative coding activity (control group). [Evaluation of the groups' collaboration during sessions 5, 10, and 15 of the Digital Narrative Coding Lab by the teacher] & [Evaluation of the students' satisfaction with the Digital Narrative Coding Lab during session 15 by the students].
Phase 7. Final assessment of participants through the STORYCODE assessment tools for students, teachers, and legal guardians.

Guidelines & FAQs - VERSION 2.0

Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)	English (EN)
Linee Guida e Domande Frequenti (FAQ)	Italiano (IT)
Líneas Guía y Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ)	Español (SP)
Gairės ir Dažniausiai Užduodami Klausimai (DUK)	Lithuanian (LT)
Richtlijnen en Veelgestelde Vragen (FAQ)	Dutch (NL)

2. STORYCODE ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND LEGAL GUARDIANS

By clicking on the images below, you will find assessment tools tailored for students, teachers, and legal guardians, available in Spanish (for Spain), Italian (for Italy), Lithuanian (for Lithuania), and Dutch (for the Netherlands).

3. STORYCODE DIGITAL NARRATIVE CODING LAB STRUCTURE

By clicking on the images below, you will find the details of the structures of the Storycode Collaborative Digital Narrative Coding Lab for Primary School, Version 2.0

The STORYCODE narrative coding lab involves 15 collaborative in-class sessions, each lasting 90 minutes for primary school students. Throughout the STORYCODE narrative coding lab, the teacher will evaluate group collaboration at three different points (sessions 5, 10, and 15) using a specific assessment tool, while the students will indicate their level of satisfaction with the lab during these same sessions.

Sessions 1 and 2: Conduct two "unplugged" coding activities without using technology.
Session 3: Provide training on using the tangible digital tool i-code, starting with an exploration of the tangible materials by the children, followed by the application.
Session 4: Story-Retelling with i-Code (Story with Beginning, Middle, and End) – Part 1. The objective is to familiarize students with the i-Code tool through narrative models and computational logic concepts.
Session 5: Story-Retelling with i-Code (Story with Beginning, Middle, and End) – Part 2. The objective is to continue familiarizing students with the i-Code tool through narrative models and computational logic concepts.
Session 6: Story-Retelling and Storytelling with i-Code (Beginning of the Story) – Part 1. The objective is to foster learning of narrative structure, sequential logic, and computational thinking concepts.
Session 7: Story-Retelling and Storytelling with i-Code (Beginning of the Story) – Part 2. The objective is to continue fostering learning of narrative structure, sequential logic, and computational thinking concepts.
Session 8: Story-Retelling and Storytelling with i-Code (Continue the Story by Adding Simple Programming Elements) – Part 1. The objective is to stimulate narration and computational thinking.
Session 9: Story-Retelling and Storytelling with i-Code (Continue the Story by Adding Simple Programming Elements) – Part 2. The objective is to continue stimulating narration and computational thinking.
Session 10: Story-Retelling and Storytelling with i-Code (Insert Repetition) – Part 1. The objective is to introduce the concept of repetition (loops) through narrative structure and coding.
Session 11: Story-Retelling and Storytelling with i-Code (Insert Repetition) – Part 2. The objective is to consolidate the use of repetition in narrative and programming.
Session 12: Storytelling with i-Code (Introduce a Problem-Solving Situation) – Part 1. The objective is to introduce basic conditional thinking through storytelling and programming.
Session 13: Storytelling with i-Code (Introduce a Problem-Solving Situation) – Part 2. The objective is to consolidate conditional and problem-solving thinking in storytelling.
Session 14: Storytelling with i-Code (Developing the Story’s Ending) – Part 1. The objective is to create the conclusion of the story using narrative and computational logic.
Session 15: Storytelling with i-Code (Developing the Story’s Ending) – Part 2. The objective is to finalize the complete narrative project and present it.