The document discusses how the mobile app Vine can be used as a tool in the classroom to teach visual narrative and storytelling. Vine allows students to create 6-second videos that must establish a conflict and resolution due to its time constraint. This promotes creativity. The document provides examples of popular Vine videos and suggests having students work in teams to write scripts and film short videos that focus on conflict and resolution. It outlines how Vine can be incorporated into many different classes and benefits such as sharing student projects online.

2. … in 6 Seconds
…explained in 5 minutes
By Jamie Cohen
Professor and Program Director, New Media at Molloy College

3. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
Teaching visual narrative is process.
Usually a long process.
Students understand it, but often take it for
granted.
But at least it has core elements!
Visual narrative is everywhere they look:
on film, television, and the web.

4. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
In a narrative, there’s usually a protagonist and an antagonis

5. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
But while it always isn’t clear…
There is still a conflict and a conflict
resolution (no spoilers)

6. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
So what is a great, accessible tool to use in a classroom t
motivate writing from script to screen?
You’ll need something that allows quick access, creation of video
some editing features, distribution methods…
There we go!

7. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
What?
You don’t have that?
Well crud.
I have a better solution anyway!
It’s portable, allows video capture, some editing,
and can distribute the product…

8. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg

9. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
Vine is limited to 6 second videos which promotes creativity in storytel
To record, you touch the mobile device’s screen,
to stop recording, you let go.
It’s a linear editing system
(which means if you mess up, you have to start ov
But these constraints are good!
It stresses the importance of writing for the screen.
Most specifically…

10. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
Note the upside down 6
A great lesson in narrative writing is practicing scriptwriting and camera
blocking. Vine is a “stupid simple”* application that is very forgiving and
pushes student creativity and teaches visual storytelling.
*Eddy, M. (2013, July 8). 6 tips for producing better Vine videos.
Retrieved from http://www.itproportal.com/2013/07/08/6-tips-for-producing-better-vine-videos/
Handley, A. (2013, October 29). 6 reasons why Vine and Instagram videos are great for your business.
Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228263

11. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
After watching a fair amount of Vines (if you have ten minutes
you can watch 100) you’ll be able to see there there are only a
few variations of Vine video because of the limitations.
Most of them have a simple arc: Conflict and Conflict Resolution
For example:
You can’t take a were-cookie-monster anywhere. By HalBot
Can I get you anything else?
Cookies?
- Cookies?
- NO!
COOKIES!!![Transforms]

12. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
Or:
Sike, I’m Single! By DRose
Sike! I’m f*ing single!
Or:
How to get someone to stop smoking. By Cody Johns
We’re trying to get Joe to
stop smoking…

13. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
While Vine is too short to develop a character, the timing is just long
enough to set up a conflict that must be resolved.
The title/caption of the Vine is part of the context, but the scene can play on its own.
Conflict: Cookies offered.
Conflict Resolution: Were-cookie-monster appears.
Conflict: Happy couple?
Conflict Resolution: Sike! One single woman.
Conflict: Needs to stop Joe from smoking.
Conflict Resolution: Stops him.

14. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
Conflict: How do you use Vine in your classroom?
Conflict Resolution: Here’s how:
• Create teams to come up with several variations of a conflict and resolution.
• Offer some basic plots:
• “Class wants to leave early”
• “Someone needs the homework assignment”
• “Student tries to be sneaky behind teacher’s back”
• Have each team write a script (remember: 6 seconds!)
• Each member should have a role
• Writer, camera blocking, stage managing, directing, etc…
PRACTICE AND REHEARSE !

15. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
Here’s a Vine that my class tried:
Do we have homework? I dunno. Can you look it up? Why don’t you?
Do we have homework? By Jared Grossman

16. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
Vine projects seems like an easy task, but it’s more
difficult than you think.
The students take away a new appreciation for the art of
writing for the screen and producing short video content.
Additional lessons for specific classes:
• Media Studies The basics of television/film production.
• Film courses Practicing blocking and short scene rehearsals.
• Media Literacy Conveying messages visually and quickly.
• Journalism Short form video reporting.
• Social Media Hashtags for sharing and categorizing content.
• Television courses As a creative exercise or competition between teams
where the
students have to utilize their learned knowledge to
produce short
form video content.

17. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
Some additional benefits of Vine:
• Vines are embeddable and shareable.
- You can make a webpage of the best ones.
• Utilize class hashtags to organize or promote your projects
• We use #MolloyNewMedia for ours.
• Easy to use on location (even without cell signal [just post later
• Assign behind the scenes projects for video/film students.
• Have journalism students add short form features to reports

18. Jamie Cohen, New Media at Molloy Colleg
If you find yourself in need of teaching narrative or video
storytelling and you need a place to start – begin with:
with
Jamie Cohen – Molloy College New Media
@NewandDigital and @MolloyNewMedia