https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/15625 2026-04-15T04:32:41Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145513 Title: To be or not to be Authors: Bonello Rutter Giappone, Krista; Cassar, Emma; Callus, Ivan Abstract: The choose-your-own-adventure game To Be or Not To Be (see Figure) reimagines and remediates William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. The digital game was released in 2015 by the developer Tin Man Games, based on the gamebook by Ryan North (2013). It offers players the option to play as Hamlet, Ophelia, or King Hamlet, and manipulate events, thereby altering the narrative. The main objective is for players to experience alternative storylines through their decisions as the game progresses. The game caters to a diverse audience by appealing to those interested in literature, comedy, and interactive storytelling. Thematic elements include fate versus free will, while the formal aspects encompass satire, parody, and the reinterpretation of classic literature through a modern, humorous lens (Bushnell, 2021; Novitz, 2020). Though not strictly designed as a serious game, “To Be or Not To Be” may be seen as combining educational content with entertainment, engaging users in active decision-making while also offering insights into the play’s structure and themes. The player reads text and selects options that influence the story’s direction. Description: A description summary of the educational game by Serious Games Information Center is available in this record. For further information please refer to the following link: https://seriousgames-portal.org/en/games/3722d4d2-ee63-4ba4-a919-1066e45b950b 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145372 Title: The secret garden (2019–2021) Abstract: The Secret Garden was a community-engaged storytelling and performance project that revitalised Maltese folklore and cultural heritage through participatory storytelling with children. The project combined creative research, participatory arts practice, and heritage interpretation to create a theatrical production and educational programme enabling children to engage actively with traditional Maltese narratives and storytelling practices. Through workshops, competitions, performances, and educational resources, the project reached hundreds of children and families, strengthening cultural awareness and creative storytelling skills while demonstrating the wider public impact of research in children’s literature, storytelling, and narrative culture. 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145371 Title: Sansuna and the carob tree (2018) Abstract: Sansuna and the Carob Tree (2018) was a practice-based research project that translates scholarly work on Maltese folklore, oral storytelling, and children’s cultural engagement into a public-facing, immersive storytelling experience. It took the form of a forty-minute live storytelling performance staged within a purpose-built tent environment, presented as part of the ŻiguŻajg International Festival for Children and Young People in Valletta, Malta and Nadur, Gozo. It combined oral storytelling, soundscape, and participatory elements to create an embodied narrative experience for children and family audiences. Fenech, G. (2022). Unseen and unheard: Women under fire [Play]. Produced by Sarah Chircop, The Storm Petrel Foundation. 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145356 Title: Welcome to parallel universe : a collection of science stories for young children Abstract: Welcome to Parallel Universe is a collection of science stories and resources for young children. As the world enters an era of unprecedented change, the United Nations’ sustainable development goals become even more urgent. Climate change, health pandemics, economic inequality, racial and gender imbalances are no longer issues that we can afford to ignore. The first step is quality education. Both stories and science invite us to ask the question “What if?” and to explore the various possibilities that arise when we approach the world with an open mind and an open heart. The collection features strong female leads to address the gender imbalance in science and encourage girls in STEM. Stories are linked to primary school syllabi topics (e.g., water cycle, planets, electricity, habitats, healthy eating), with accompanying audio tracks, activities, experiments, and storyboards. It was created to provide free, well-researched resources that highlight the power of science and collaboration. 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z