iFiction: mobile technology, new media, mixed reality and literary creativity in English teaching

<i>iFiction</i> is a location-based mobile application using Mixed Reality and multimedia technologies designed to enhance and transform children’ s interactive, participatory and innovative experiences with English literature. With this app, children author their own interactive reversionings of literary texts using a range of traditional multimedia technologies (such as text, audio, photo, video) as well as Mixed Reality (MR) technologies and then manipulate these media into a MR layering of the story that can be placed within a particular context of space and time, blending virtual and actual reality. <i>iFiction</i> uses theories of multimodal authoring and principles drawn from alternate reality gaming to create a unique context for children to learn to be sophisticated content creators, and to engage in critical and reflective cultural practice. We will report preliminary findings from our pilot project with school children as an indicative proof of concept of <i>iFiction</i>.