Independence is fostered when children use a HyperStudio stack designed to facilitate activities. Adults can create a stack that makes use of photographs, text, and speech to guide children. Activities that are generally adult directed can be transformed into projects children can accomplish independently. Cooking activities are frequently adult directed. By using HyperStudio and incorporating photographs of utensils and ingredients, a written and verbal recipe, photographs and video of stages in the process, and clues, tips, and suggestions adults can produce a child friendly stack.
HyperStudio stacks are works in progress.
As new experiences are added to the child's schemata, the stack becomes a portfolio of the child's growth. While HyperStudio is a product oriented program, children are heavily invested in the process involved in creating HyperStudio stacks. Children can be involved in initial planning, gathering materials, discussing content, making decisions, implementing ideas, and producing a stack with very little assistance from adults. Our experiences demonstrate that even very young children can be actively involved in each stage. The initial planning may involve a brainstorming session with children in a search for possible topics, ideas, and design.