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Watch the animated version of the comic below, to see the distinctions between both worlds and how effective we can be when we work together in groups.

Transcript

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the videos and the graphic novel are those of the author and not of The Open University. 

Find out more about S World - M World

Below is a series of short videos between one of the authors - Simon Bell, and the illustrator - Charles Cutting, discussing their work, plus what they're up to next.

Why are stories a great way to help people learn?

Transcript

If somebody starts telling a story,
everybody goes silent and they listen.
Storytelling has this affect where it commands attention.

What kinds of stories work well?

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Open-ended stories are much
more interesting, because then the audience
has to sit down and do some work.

How do stories translate to graphic novels?

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I gave you the words and then this incredible 
thing happened, you sent me back blue diagrams
capturing your consideration.

What can a graphic novel do that a written text cannot?

                                                                                      Transcript

If the imagery is suitably compelling,
people do like to stop and absorb it
and take their own time.

How does the artist rend a narrative into an illustration?

Transcript

I think you have to come up with
an idea, or a hook, or a shtick.

How M World came together

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I was also influenced by people like Sam Harris
and his writing on Waking Up and this idea that
we're in our own heads all the time.

What is M World expected to achieve?

                                                                                    Transcript

One of the most simplest and perhaps most obvious thing
it does is underline what is good behaviour and what is
the correct way to behave towards somebody.

What are we doing next?

                                                                                     Transcript

We need to surprise ourselves sometimes and sometimes
it's when we're taken out of ourselves by a fiction that
we'll get a sideways view of our life and our problems.

Download S World - M World

Click on the image above to download the comic Now you've watched the animated version of the comic, and seen the interviews between one of the authors and illustrators -  download the comic (13.2 MB) . 

S World - M World is about helping people to work together in online groups. Behaviours such as communicating, sharing, empathy, supporting others, picking up the workload for others, managing expectations, negotiating common ground and caring how others feel are key to creating a positive working environment amongst a group.

Behaviours such as self-obsession, self-assertion and self-preservation at the expense of others, can all lead to negative group experiences.

This story of behaviours relates to the narrative method for the story, which is to draw a distinction between our solitary lives (M World) and our ideally shared lives (S World). The distinction is made to show that both worlds are positive, but to make effective use of online group work (or any group work) the S World is the place to be.

If we stay in M World, we do not work together well. We are, paradoxically, stuck in ourselves and even unknowing of ourselves. If we move to S World, we can work effectively with others and provide them with the support, we need.