- Using cutting edge ‘choose your own adventure’ technology
- BGT star Kevin Quantum builds on success of in person workshops to reach thousands of children
Edinburgh International Magic Festival is proud to announce the launch of Virtual Magic School [VMS] a cutting-edge and free-to-use, digital learning resource for primary school children in Scotland and the UK.
MagicFest’s original in-person workshops have been a hugely successful part of The International Magic Festival for 13 years, teaching over 2000 children magic tricks. The workshop format has now been upgraded using technology currently only seen in high budget productions by companies such as Netflix etc.
The course consists of 8 curricula-linked lessons and is packed full of illusions and tricks. Children get to make choices through the lesson selecting buttons on the screen and can unearth hidden secrets and magic tricks by correctly completing each lesson!
Key advantages include:
- The course is tied up to the curricula North and south of the border thanks to the collaboration with primary school teachers in Scotland and England
- The course focuses on numeracy, literacy and science as well as presentation skills, confidence and resilience.
- The use of cutting edge ‘choose your own adventure’ technology hugely increases engagement and learning.
- The resource has been funded by Scottish and UK funding bodies as well as Trusts and Private companies so that It could be free to use for all schools.
Britain’s Got Talent star and Festival organiser Kevin Quantum said: “I’m so excited to become the Magic Teacher for 1000s of children up and down the country teaching them not only tricks, but the real secrets behind the tricks, often found in science and maths, as well as the confidence and presentational skills needed to go and perform them to friends and family.
“Dumbledore eat your heart out! I think even he, with his powers, would have struggled to teach so many children simultaneously.”
Although VMS has just launched, the idea for the project was developed two years ago. During lockdown Kevin and his daughter Olivia started a YouTube channel teaching magic and science. The channel was so popular that it was commissioned by the BBC and has now evolved again to become an interactive digital learning adventure.
Svetlana McMahon MagicFest director said “We’re delighted to be fusing cutting edge technology, only seen so far on Netflix productions, like Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, with our experience delivering magic workshops to children around the country.
“This is a huge step towards our goal of promoting magic as an artform and helps many thousands of children get a grasp on numeracy and literacy using the inbuilt curiosity and excitement of a magic lesson!”
In person Magic School has seen lessons here in Edinburgh during the festival, at schools in areas of deprivation around Scotland and as far afield as the Globe Theatre in London. This digital incarnation could now reach children all over the world.
The project has been supported by The Space, Baillie Gifford and Kiran’s Trust.
Fiona Morris Creative Director and Chief Executive of The Space said: “Virtual Magic School is a fantastic project that combines magic and tricks with branching narrative technology to create a really engaging teaching resource.
“We are sure that it will be an invaluable tool both inside and outside of the classroom where children learn through a medium that are increasingly accustomed to”.
Johnny Martin, Director of Kiran’s Trust said: “We have been pleased to have supported MagicFest’s Magic Schools, Workshops and Magic School on the Road. We are delighted to be part of that next generation of Magic education.
“We believe the VMS environment allows innovative ideas to flourish and helps in conceiving and executing various problem-solving approaches. It creates a room for creativity, perspectives, opportunities and ideas!”