School Video? Kids Behind the Camera

With a carefully planned lesson, teachers can capitalizea deadline for a step in the project and then have
on the inherent interest of students in technology tothem move on.
teach, well, just about anything. A classroom videoStudents should outline the objective of their pieces
digital camera and an editing program allows studentsvery clearly and then they must stick to them. Have
to be video producers.students review their piece to make sure it sticks to
By using educational videos as an example to providethe objective. This is a very important element to learn
students with sounds and images and text to supportbecause they will use it for the rest of their lives in their
new words and concepts, teachers can use thepersonal and professional endeavors.
educational video as a tool for their students to watchThe culmination of the project should be to teach new
and learn to create their own videos. By creating theiror extended lessons using their videos as the
own videos students can expand there experience ofsupplemental resource for the lesson. The whole class
the subject and understanding of the concepts. Asafter the actual lesson should have a discussion and
educators in this day and age, teachers know thatoffer constructive feedback on each video.
almost every student is familiar with television andThis is good team or group work project because you
movies and video and the computer and cameras andwill probably have great student interest because they'll
we can rely on their understanding of the formats andget to use the video equipment and get to create
media for them to film creative video curriculumprograms in a format they are familiar with but with
objective complying lessons.their own unique creativity. Students can assign each
Now create a lesson or a series of lessons whereother different roles in the production and come
they use this knowledge to put together their owntogether as a team. Just like in the movie industry to
video.which they are probably familiar with certain actors
Start by identifying the lesson objective. What do theyand writing teams that make movies.
need to learn? What new words or terms do theyThe potential learning opportunities of this kind of
have to learn?lesson plan are great. Students will not only cover the
Students have to create a video for their classmatesoriginal subject area objectives, they will learn project
so they must have an understanding of the conceptmanagement skills, working as a team, technical skills
they are filming. Your initial lesson should cover thefor using film equipment and for setting up scenes
objective and include new vocabulary and anyincluding filming angles and lighting, editing software
important concepts that support the objective.program skills and editing video skills. They will
Students should have the basic concepts downchallenge their creativity and see how ideas can be
before you introduce the video part of lesson.presented. They will be able to test ideas to see how
Now introduce the "video production" as theirand if they will work. Digital video allows for many
assignment. Review the concepts and then ask them"shots" so they can experiment.
what they can video that will help explain the objective.To insure the success of this kind of complex and
Connect it to your initial lessons by asking them whatmulti-step lesson or unit, you have to take extra time
they need to teach and what new words or termsduring the planning stage. Map out the whole process.
they have to teach. This is a very important learningCreate simple flow charts that allow for changes to
element because in deciding what and how to capturefollow discussions or for ideas quickly assimilated into
the concept with a story line, they become involved inthe class. Make sure all the equipment is available. If
critical analysis and review based on the initial objectivestudents have their own equipment, make sure it is
and concepts from the lesson.charged and ready, has the instructions with them for
Carefully structure the filming and editing time. Bysetting verification and bring the power cord just in
breaking your students into groups you can have themcase. Have digital chips available and linking cords. The
cover several lessons from the unit and then you canattention to detail will make the lessons run smooth
have a video equipment lesson, a video editing lessonand thus, be more effective and more efficient.
with the software, brainstorming and planning lessons,The true beauty of this kind of lesson is that you can
and a video production time for each group per classuse it for any subject and almost every grade level.
period. Limit their time and encourage students whoLike a pencil, it can write anything.
may be worried about not "making it perfect" to meetImprove your lessons right now by watching this video
the requirements in a time efficient manner. You don't"The 7 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make Using Video
want them bogged down on the details. Encouragein the Classroom" and by downloading and following
their creativity in the brainstorming lesson and theirthe research-based teaching techniques in the Free
speediness in the editing part. Have check pointsExpert Guide.
throughout the lesson or unit where they have to meet