Storybird Bias

Bias of Storybird

I used Storybird for a recent project assignment for students to write about an influential person in their life. You can read about here (it includes the links to Storybird as well).  I found Storybird a very positive and useful sight for classroom use. It is important to analyze each tool that teachers use online and weigh in all the factors, such as bias.

Storybird has multiple positive biases. For example, it favors classrooms whose teachers want students to create a story but want to save time and be efficient. It also is biased positively toward students who struggle artistically (all artwork is predetermined in groups by artist for the user to use). Storybird  benefits those who have experience with various online tools and are familiar with cues; for the more experience one has technologically, the easier they will be able to maneuver around the sight.

Storybird has biases on the flip-side. Storybird requires its users to only choose from certain artwork once someone has chosen their theme. Users cannot mix and match artwork. Though this limits flexibility, it calls for students to critically think as to how they can keep their theme in a creative manner. This is biased towards the artists that submitted their artwork to be used (to make sure the artists names are being published online). In addition, Storybird is biased because they are trying to sell final products of the books people have completed. Storybird knows that people cannot have hard copies of their creation unless purchased. Therefore, marketing is a part of the scheme and affects the webpage design.

Analyzing Storybird by no means discounts all of the positives or negatives. It is simply important to look at tools with a discerning eye and encourage students to do the same.