During 2005 Jon Robson undertook a speaking and listening project at Tweendykes special school in Hull. The project was entitled – “Talking Books “

Jon worked with each class in the school to create their own digital film story comprising still photographs and sound. Stories ranged from nursery rhymes to factual documentaries to dramatic historical stories. 

The pupils developed the ideas of the story then planned the scenes. Some stories were acted out by the children themselves other were created from puppets or clay models. Each class’ story became a unique product. 

The pupils were taught how to use a digital camera, down load the images onto the software and record sound effects. The project culminated in a whole school film show to which the pupil’s families were invited. 

The pupils were thrilled at the results- and proud with the professional finish of the end product.
Throughout the project the ability of the pupils in using technology exceeded the staff expectations. The pupil’s were eager and interested to learn.

Jon developed an excellent rappour with everyone in the school community and was able to bring out the best in each pupil. 

Throughout Jon led the project with patience , humour and purpose.

The legacy of his work is still alive in the school. “Talking books” are a valuable teaching resource. They are made following school trips, special events and to support topic based work. Pupils love to see themselves on a large screen and the stories serve to engage and enliven their language skills.

Berni Dobson – Head teacher Tweendykes school.

Winifred Holtby Technology College has worked with Jon on countless occasions. Each time he has been an inspiration to our students and staff ! Students have enjoyed, and thrived on the knowledge and skilled delivery of the workshops and have shown high levels of motivation and team work skills when working on their films.

The films made have left a lasting impression within the school and wider community. Through the outstanding staff training Jon has provided, we have been able to develop the use of Media software within the school especially in English lessons.

Jo Warnes
Head of Creative and Performing Arts
Winifred Holtby School Technology College

I first met Jon a few years ago on a Creative Partnerships course but already knew him by reputation . As a teacher of primary age deaf children I’m always looking for ways of making their learning stimulating and relevant.

Children with a severe or profound hearing loss need to learn primarily visually and kinaesthetically and they lack many of the experiences hearing children take as a matter of course. Film and photography is an ideal medium – it’s visual, immediate and can provide instant access and feedback.

Jon provided the means for a technically inept teacher to involve the children in film making projects. So far he’s worked with us on a film to promote deaf awareness week, a short stop frame animation film about recycling and an ongoing project about how it feels to be a minority group – a deaf child in a hearing school.

Although he can’t sign his easy-going and friendly manner allows him to communicate with the children who all look forward to his visits. The work has helped enormously in giving the children a voice and a sense of pride in what they can achieve.

Sue Fletcher
Deputy Head
Tilbury T.C. Unit Hull

Hull Museum Education are committed to making museum collections
accessible and relevant to young people today. During 2006 – 2008, Cafe
society worked with us on the ‘Campaign! make an Impact’ project, using
historic collections to help young people gain active citizenship
skills.

The outcomes of the project were phenomenal and have received
national recognition, even resulting in two Winifred Holtby pupils
attending a reception with the then prime minister, Tony Blair.

Jon had the citizenship knowledge and creative approach to make the
project a success. The second phase of the project with Endeavour high
produced highly professional films with very profound content from the
young people. Cafe Society have the skills to engage with young people
on a level relevant to them and get outstanding results.

Sarah Howard
Hull Museums Education Service 

Jon Robson and his crew from Cafesociety.org worked with our students here on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona USA in 2002 and 2003. Our young Native American students had a great learning experience and a lot of fun while working on the “Digital Story Telling” projects.

Jon is an excellent educator who has certainly got the knack of working with young kids globally.
He educates students not only on the technological side of the projects but also integrates core areas of the curriculum like maths, and language arts.

We were so impressed with the initial project that we invited Cafesociety.org back the following year to work with our students and participate in the ‘Access Native America Technology Conference’.
Since 1997, the Access Native America Technology Conference has brought together educators, technology experts, and administrators from the 185 Bureau of Indian Affairs schools to learn from each other and from others outside of our school system about how to integrate technology into our schools.

Jon, along with his colleagues and a selection of our students made a presentation on the importance of storytelling with an emphasis on using new technology to reach a global audience. The presentation was a great success and made us proud of the work our students had produced during the digital storytelling workshops.

Our students really miss him and his British accent. We wish him all the best.

Jack Sharma
Head of technology
Gila Crossing Community School.