Introducing Kingcom

Researchers are:

• School pupils in Cycle 2 (from the 5th year of school onwards)
• School pupils in Cycle 3
• Students at Secondary level 2
• Higher education students
• Teachers

We would be happy to tailor the service to meet individual requirements of other interested parties.

Option A "Kingcom classic" (workshop of at least 4 hours duration, preparation by telephone in consultation with the workshop leader)

Short introduction to the exhibition; tour with stops at the stations relevant to the selected research assignments
Discussion of the timetable for the day, objectives, how to handle data correctly, organisation of groups
Planning and research in the research groups
Publication of the research results as a blog post
Viewing of the blog and mutual feedback

Option B "Kingcom Plan B" (workshop of 3.5 hours duration, preparation: formation of groups of three)

Introduction to Kingcom, selection of research assignments
Tour of the exhibition and allocation of the research zones
Planning and research in the research groups (individual break in the groups approx. 20 min.)
Recording the conclusion of the research results, creating a photo for the article
Short presentation of the research findings to the plenary

Option C "Kingcom light" (workshop of 2.5 hours duration, preparation: group formation and selection of research assignments)

Tour of the exhibition and allocation of the research zones
Planning and research in the research groups (short individual break in the groups)
Record the conclusion of the research results, creating a photo for the article
Short presentation of the research findings to the plenary

A) Content research

• Gathering information at the exhibition
• Contributing own prior knowledge
• Exchanging experiences
• Specifying key focus areas
• Formulating exciting questions about the subject
• Finding further sources of information

B) Planning work varies depending on the duration of the workshop

• Specifying work materials and tools
• Selecting suitable media (image, text, audio, video, quiz)
• Establishing the quality characteristics of a successful blog entry (w-questions, storyboard, structure/development)
• Team organisation: who takes on which duties?

C) Production

• Application of research methods (see research assignments)

Participation in a Kingcom workshop involves pursuing two overarching objectives. The selection of the research assignment adds many further, level-specific learning objectives. In the interests of clarity, these objectives are not included here.

Gathering, summarising, evaluating and publishing information
Interdisciplinary competences from the Lehrplan 21 curriculum: 

·         Finding, evaluating, preparing and presenting information 

Competences from the Lehrplan 21 curriculum for Cycles 2-3:

·         Pupils are able to extract important information from factual texts.
·         Pupils are able to acquire factual texts as part of their research and, with the help of key questions, are able to use the information contained in these texts in further assignments.
·         Pupils are able to develop their own ideas in relation to the questions and tasks set; and are able to research, structure and evaluate information.
·         Pupils are able to gain knowledge about the past from conversations with contemporary witnesses.
·         Pupils are able to examine the use and effect of language.
D.2.B.1, TTG.2.A.1, RZG.7.3.c-d, D.5.B.1.c-d

Using traditional and digital media, as well as information technology competently as a tool
Competences from the Lehrplan 21 curriculum for Cycles 2-3:

·         Pupils are able to use current media in a way that is appropriate for the objective and the target group. They are able to discuss and present their thoughts and knowledge to an audience or to make it available to the public.
·         Pupils are able to design and adapt platforms and to use these in an interactive way for collaborative working, the exchange of opinions, communication and publication.
MI.1.3.f, MI.1.4.c, D.3.B.1.h-i, D.4.B.1.h, MU.5.A.1.g, NT.1.3.c, NT.3.3.a

Workshop leadership
Researchers will be accompanied during the workshop sessions (excluding the lunch break) by Monika Gurtner or Anja Vogel, experienced teachers and cultural mediators. The leader is responsible for the timetable for the day, methods and exhibition contents. This person is also in charge of technical assistance in the creation of multimedia content.

Teaching staff
The teacher – and other very welcome accompanying staff – will carry out their supervisory duties throughout the entire duration of the workshop (including the lunch break). Workshop leaders can use the teachers for support, if required.

We follow the guidelines for data protection in primary schools in the canton of Bern, in particular Chapter 4.1.6 (photos, video and audio recordings at primary school). The points listed below form topics covered in every workshop.

Protection of personal information:

1. A blog entry is signed with the person’s first name – never with their first and last name. In place of a portrait photo of the person concerned, we recommend using a symbolic image.
2. Kingcom publishes all video clips on YouTube and all audio clips on Soundcloud.
3. If participants are visible in photos and videos, then they participate voluntarily. Minors participate with the permission of their parents or legal guardians.
4. Participants are obliged to make these points clear to passers-by or museum visitors prior to an interview.

Copyright:

1. The Museum of Communication allows participants to use the exhibitions and their entire contents for the website kingcom.ch, in particular with respect to photographs and videos. Passages from exhibition texts must be identified correctly as quotations.
2. The copying of text, picture or video material from the internet and use as part of a blog entry without reference to the sender is forbidden! Entries with copied content will be deleted. Correct quotations, as well as links to content of third parties on the Internet, are permitted.

Collective memory
Can you still remember? 9/11, William Tell, fondue, Mani Matter ... When lots of people remember the same thing, this is called a collective memory. They bring us together and serve as a point of reference.

Copyright
Legal or illegal? Copying correctly means taking note of copyright. If you have not produced the material yourself, you have to ask the owner for permission to use the material and indicate its origin (see also Source). Copying text, images or video material from the Internet and publishing it as a blog entry is forbidden in Kingcom! Entries with copied content will be deleted.

Core statement
What do I want to say? The core statement should summarise the research findings in one sentence and stick in the minds of the readers of the blog.

Images
Click, click! It’s as quick as that. But images – especially moving images – have power. They attract attention and have to be created very carefully. You should be able to see clearly what they are about. Details cannot be seen on a screen. That’s why you should get up close to the subject! Photos and videos for the blog should always be produced in landscape format.

Kingcom
A crown for everyone! Everyone taking part in a workshop and researching the world of communication becomes the 'King or Queen of Communication'.

O-sound
Exactly as it was: 'O' here stands for 'Original'. Original sounds are genuine passages from an interview. They make blog entries particularly interesting and credible.

Research assignment
Finding things out for yourself gives you strength! Through the research assignments on the kingcom.ch website, individual topics at the Museum for Communication can be studied more closely under the microscope. In addition, possible methods are listed: learners are free to choose from this list or use their own methods. In addition, the 'At the museum' section gives the areas of the exhibitions where research is especially fruitful, and the 'On the Internet' section contains useful links on the topic. The research assignments marked with an asterisk are particularly demanding.

Learners or teachers are also allowed to develop research assignments of their own. However, these should fulfil the following criteria:

1. The exhibitions at the Museum for Communication should form the basis of the research.
2. The research, planning, preparation and publication of findings must be achievable within the very short timeframe of the day workshop.
3. The research topic should be of interest to a broad, young audience.

Social skills
Clever chap! A person who is able to empathise with others, is patient and always strives with others to find a good solution has high-level social skills. These are an important prerequisite for successful communication.

Source
Where does it come from? In communication, by a source, a person is referring to the origin of a piece of information. Researchers in particular always quote the source. People who copy make themselves unpopular – and in cases of plagiarism even liable to prosecution. The workshop leader, teachers or Wikipedia are available to help you with quoting your sources correctly.

Storyboard
A good plan is half the battle. A storyboard refers to a planning document with outlined frames. This provides a good overview and is absolutely essential for a good video clip. Templates can be requested from the workshop leader.

Teaser
Short and appealing: a teaser is a 'taster' or something to whet the appetite. This short text underneath the title of the blog entry contains the core statement (see above) and entices people to click on the entry.

Concept: Stephan Wüthrich, Gallus Staubli
Workshop leadership: Monika Gurtner, Anja Vogel
Text: textatelier.ch, Mia Hofmann
Translation: Translingua
Design: Grafikatelier Saxer, Hannes Saxer
Programming: Captns & Partner, Tobias Steiner
Contact: Gallus Staubli