Connecting Kids With Cameras

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Parker on May 23, 2010 at 8:44pm

In my dissertation research I followed 12th graders in a school which integrated media analysis and production into its curriculum. For their combined English and history class, students had to write a traditional essay on the novel Brave New World and then create a public service announcement (PSA) based on the book. They had to pretend they were part of Mustapha Mond's propaganda machine and, using a theme and a slogan from the book, create a PSA that demonstrated the dystopian society. It was a great collaborative project that allowed the students to use digital video to be creative and analytical. Plus, students received feedback from peers and their teachers. I have found that digital video production lends itself to peer based learning and collaborative projects that can be both academic and creative in nature.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Laurice on August 12, 2010 at 10:16am

Just got a pair of FLIPs last year, about mid year, so I my still feeling my way around them. They are shared between 200 kids at this point, and I never really see them (fortunately, many of the kids have them as well).
So far I have had them used for assessment (students made Weather Reports and documentaries on plants used for medical reasons) and demonstrations (Newton's 3 Laws and 8th grade boys...hilarious). They are great for the kids, but I find myself spending a lot of time teaching the ones who use them how to edit (the ones that have them have that dialed)- I am thinking next year I will put a student in charge of edit room duties. In any event- the product I receive from students when they go home with one is so much better than I would ever get in writing that the extra time does not really matter.
They also inject an air of humor into our projects, which certainly helps fight the drudgery of the day to day- priceless.

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Permalink Reply by Tom Miles on August 12, 2010 at 2:00pm

Wow, two Flips for 200 kids! That's a challenge.
I like your idea of turning the editing instruction over to the students.
Also, you might try teaching the kids about editing in the camera, in other words, planning out the sequence of what they are going to shoot and then shooting it in one take. My grade 4 students picked up on this idea very quickly with just some basic instruction on my part.

I also found that the two kids who had their own Vado/Flips in my room were very happy to act as resident expert videographers.

One problem to overcome is to not let the video sit around in the camera. The great thing about the Flip-type design is how little time it takes to plug them into a computer, dump the files, get the cameras back in use, and, probably of greatest importance to students, start sharing/publishing their work.

As an example of this I think we were able to shoot video of the beginning of a class discussion, and then conclude the discussion by watching that video. Since it has been my experience that most people love to hear and see themselves talk, this kept the engagement level high. This use of quick-feedback video touches on another area where cameras impact the classroom: augmented reality.

I also like your reference to cutting into the drudgery. Cameras, in many forms, bring new ways of presenting and sharing information to the classroom - and through the classroom - as we burn DVDs and post to the Internet.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Laurice on August 12, 2010 at 11:58pm

Little wary of tubing my gang as the parent part of my clientèle may not dig that, but I watched your channel and was impressed/amused...all kinds of wowed.
But forget Cameras! Is that an Ukulele I hear on the Garbage song? I play too, and accordion, rhythm bones and melodica (Concertina on a really good day).

OK- back to serious. Yes, the 2 FLIPS are well used in my room- always out with a kid somewhere, to the point where I have a hard time keeping up with them. I guess I should mention that my classes are 40 strong, but 20 of them have their own camera's as a rule, so mine were just the vehicle to teach me what they could do with the classroom.

Storyboarding- BRILLIANT. This should be part of their repertoire already if I approach the planning as "writing a comic", I will definitely teach that. As for kids running the edit, I do Student Council (leadership) and Academic Decathlon at my school...my guys are so used to me saying "hey, can you do this?" Many of them jump at the opportunity, even if it really only offers them a chance to sit at my computer (which they know is my favorite thing).

I have been amazed so far at what the camera does. Take a kid who gives continual one word answers in class and allow them to do their assessment at home (say a weather report as that is the scenario that is coming to mind) and you get a skit with costumes and charts, kids laughing while they are demonstrating what they know- at least that is what I got. Learned right off where the comedy was coming from too (and of course, we watch those again).
The other piece of magic I acquired was a SmartBoard. Throwing the finished project at a 77" screen has really got the creative juices flowing in my room. Always looking for new things to do with it though- glad this discussion exists (as well as the links to your Tube account)- nice to not have to implement into a void.

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