Fishtastic

Pupils from Scalloway Junior High School  launched their new web site www.fishtastic-uk.net through an exhibition at the former Scalloway Woollen Mill.

The website is the outcome of their work over the past year on the innovative Scalloway Moving Image Web Project.  This ambitious project enabled pupils to work with a team of specialists from different fields, linking art and design, marine science and technology. 
Brian Henderson, Danny McNeill and Roxane Permar, who worked with the pupils throughout the whole period, led the project. 

Project manager, Roxane said: "It has been great fun working with the young people on this really exciting project.  We all learned a lot about the use of digital media and how it can link people on a global level.

"The pupils are very excited that the website has finally been launched and we look forward to meeting lots of people when they come to the exhibition to learn more about the project."

The website features nine animations created by 17 pupils, with Shetland's subsea marine environment as the main subject.  The colourful characters are drawn from all sizes and shapes of sea creatures and include a deep sea band, giant squid, a lumbering crab and a family of seahorses. 

All the animations are hand drawn and animated using Flash software.  Some have original sound tracks.  There is also a quiz, underwater videos and a section on sea life with a twist. 
The project provided a unique opportunity for pupils, teachers and professionals based in Shetland and mainland Scotland to work together, sharing knowledge and expertise.

The young people started the project by investigating the marine environment with partners outwith the school.  They had boat trips on Dunter III with Dr Jonathan Wills, sessions with Karen Hall of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and visits to the North Atlantic Fisheries College (NAFC) with Gregg Arthur, where they were able to use the library. 
In addition to the marine specialists based in Shetland, the writers Anne Dickie and Christine De Luca helped the young people develop their stories; and web designers and developers from Robert Gordon University, Iain Morrison and John Welsh, provided training and support throughout.

The project has already attracted attention nationally as a model of good practice in working together and collaborative use of technology with young people.

The project has received wide support within Shetland, with financial assistance coming from SNH, the Scottish Arts Council Lottery Fund, Shetland Islands Council, Scalloway Community Council and LEADER+.

Katrina Wiseman, Shetland Enterprise's LEADER+ co ordinator, said: "The project has been really worthwhile with 17 young people learning really important skills that will help them with their preparations for the world of work.  It has also provided three adults with training in digital animation and web design, allowing them to roll the project out to other schools - bringing these skills to more children throughout Shetland."