Incorporating Animation Concepts and

Principles in STEM Education

Article Review

By: Kari Busard

Western Illinois University

Instructional Design and Education

Group 1: Static Image and Animation in Education

February, 2013

Kari Busard

IDT 560

Article Review

February, 2013

1

Image 1

Image 2

Introduction

The article, Incorporating Animation Concepts and Principles in STEM Education by

Harrison & Hummell (2010), is an introductory and informational article on the history of

animation and how it fits in to today’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics) educational system. It takes you through the evolution of various types of

animation, explains example lessons for students using various types of animation, and gives a

working model of how to choose the proper animation style.

History

The roots of animation can be found in cave art

during the Paleolithic era. Drawings were done a

progression that conveyed movement of people and animals.

These changing dynamic positions were the world’s first

known animation. The first animation tool that resembles

animation creation in this century was developed in 1834 by

William George Horner. His invention was the Zoetrope

(Image 1). The zoetrope uses still images placed in a

cylinder and spun clock wise while viewing the images

through slits in the cylinder. (Harrison & Hummell, 2010)

Fifty years later, John Barns Linnet created an

American past time, the flip book. (Image 2) A flip book

uses many pages that contain an image in a progressive and

sequential form – such as, throwing a ball, or a smiling

face. When the pages of the small book are flipped quickly,

you view each sequential image rapidly, giving the illusion

of motion. (Image 2)

Kari Busard

IDT 560

Article Review

February, 2013

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The table below shows various types of animation that we see in our everyday life –

commercials, movies, and advertisements.

When Type About Example

Early

1900’s

Stop

Animation

Claymation

Uses still images in a

progression or clay figures

in a progression. An image

is take at each progression

and the images are strung

together and viewed quickly

to create an animation.

Wallace and Gromit

Image Source

Mid

1900’s

Cel

Animation

Characters are hand drawn

and copied in plastic sheets

that are then painted and

photographed onto film

paper.

Mickey Mouse

Image Source

1990-

Early

2000’s

Computer

Graphic

imagery

(CGI)

Uses complex 2D and 3D

computer software to create

images and movement. Toy

Story (1995) was the first

completely computer

generated movie.

Toy Story

Image Source

Kari Busard

IDT 560

Article Review

February, 2013

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In Education

With the rapid evolution of animation and its integration into our everyday lives, we can see how

learners today can and do connect with animation use in education materials. Animation use is

becoming more prevalent due to access to current software and familiarity with its uses. The

article states that “because of the complexity and realism, animation is not necessarily superior to

static images when trying to convey concepts through the use of visuals.” However, it goes on to

say that the difficulty understanding animations when related to teaching concepts could

“be alleviated if the animations included some type of user control. User-controllable

animations include functions such as: presentation rate control, directional control, and

scene continuity control. … research has shown that animations convey

concepts/principles better than their static counterparts, although the extent is currently

unknown.” (Harrison & Hummell, 2010)

The article gives examples of lessons for students using three types of animation – hand drawn,

Model animation (puppets and Claymation), and computer generated animation. In addition to

various lessons, the article gives a scientific model and informative list of how to choose your

type of animation – 2D static, 2D dynamic, 3D static, or 3D dynamic. Figure 3 shows a diagram

of the scientific model and Figure 4 shows examples of the types of animation.

2d Dynamic 2d Static

3D Dynamic 3d Static

Figure 3 Figure 4

Kari Busard

IDT 560

Article Review

February, 2013

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Conclusion

With animation and graphic images being such a large part of our culture an

entertainment industry, it is only fitting that this spill over in helping educators reach tier

audience and connect material. Animation had been around for centuries, and most recently been

available to the masses. This article explains the various types of animation and how to us them

in education materials. In addition, the article also provides great detail and resources for

available software to use for computer generated animation.

Kari Busard

IDT 560

Article Review

February, 2013

5

References

Harrison III, H., & Hummell, L. J. (2010). Incorporating Animation Concepts and Principles in

STEM Education. Technology Teacher, 69(8), 20-25.