Visual programming for the greation of digital shadow play performance using mobile devices in times of Covid-19

The design of a guided research project using an educational scenario based on a visual programming environment using smart mobile devices (smartphone, tablet) aimed at creating a digital shadow play performance. It was implemented in a classroom environment as part of the festive activities of the 4th Primary School of Nea Ionia Volos “Panagiotis Katsirelos” to celebrate the 200 years since the Greek Revolution. Moreover, the digital work that emerged was presented at the 10th Digital Creation Festival (Volos, Magnesia junction). The guided research project was approached interdisciplinary with the collaboration of teachers of Informatics, Theatrical Education, and general education teachers. The educational scenario was addressed to the 6th-grade primary school students. The students were already familiar with internet applications, ICT tools, and Scratch, a visual programming environment. The students used three smart mobile devices to create the final digital artifact with Scratch’s visual programming environment due to special learning conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.