Teaching with videogames: Interactive narratives and 'Florence'
Florence is a heartfelt interactive experience that lasts around 30 minutes. It's short, but deeply meaningful.
Accessible in both Media Studies and English, Florence is an interactive comic-book style story. You, the player, become part of the story by taking on the role of the 25-year-old Florence. Amidst falling in love and finding herself, the player guides Florence through everyday tasks present in her home life, work life, and relationships. The game features no spoken or written dialogue, instead allowing the player to interpret the story through imagery and sound.
Year levels: Year 9 and up
Subject areas: Media Studies, English, STEAM/Game Design/Multimedia, Visual Arts.
Technology involved: Florence licence is between $4-$9. For this lesson we use a single licence for the whole class.
Download the full lesson plan
The lesson plan includes links to the Victorian Curriculum, indications of lesson timing, and ideas for differentiation and assessment.
In this lesson, students learn about different methods of storytelling and narrative style, how player (reader) agency can enhance the narrative, and discover this powerful example of blending the visual novel and gaming genres.
By the end of this lesson, students should
| About different methods of storytelling and narrative style |
| How players can exert their agency and decision-making in videogames |
| The effect of music and colour |
| The media production process |
| Identify the progression of a narrative through character development |
| Interpret meaning and dialogue through visual forms, such as shapes, speech bubbles and music |
| Discuss the development of Florence in an Australian setting |
| Identify examples of the media production process in the creation of Florence |
| Understanding of Media codes, such as colour and sound, and their effect on the audience |
| Ability to identify how players and audiences are engaged through decision making and agency in videogames |
| The process of inferring meaning from a story or narrative |
| Analytical writing and speaking |