2009 Volume 26 Issue 2 Pages 149-160
This paper describes development and evaluation of “VoicingBoard”: a computer-based tool that helps users to draw Manga (cartoon). This system is developed to support Manga-representation method, which is a training method for message generation in the process of presentation. In this method, learners are supposed to represent their ideas in the form of a Manga and reflect on their ideas by examining as well as re-drawing the Manga. It is expected that representing their ideas in a form of Manga will help learners to envision voices of related people to think about their ideas in relation of various opinions of the people. This multivoiced reflection is, from the viewpoint of the theory of dialogue, the key to good presentation. The authors’ previous study showed that Manga-representation method was effective in supporting learners’ multivoiced consideration; however, it also revealed drawing Manga itself was hard task for learners. VoicingBoard is developed to reduce the load of Manga drawing. Comparison experiment between paper-based Manga and VoicingBoard showed that (1) Manga drawing with this system is easier than paper-based drawing and (2) with VoicingBoard, learners can imagine more related actors than paper-based drawing.
