Using Digital Video in the Classroom

      Kentucky is a long way from Hollywood.  So, does that mean that we may not mold any future film directors, screen writers or producers?  Not, necessarily.  The Blair Witch Project proved that just about anyone can write, film and produce a million dollar box office hit.  Your average teacher did not get a degree in cinematography.  However, digital video is becoming popular as a teaching and learning tool.  It lends itself to engaging the students in higher order thinking skills, constructivism, and multiple intelligences.  The use of video production can, in fact, enhance the learning process in most all core content areas.  I know, you now have several questions running through your mind.  Hopefully, you will find your answers below:

How can I  use Video Production in my classroom?

Language Arts: Multimedia book reviews, do a visual interpretation of a poem or other literary work, write a drama then produce it, storyboard creation, etc., reenact a classic literary work.

Math: Explain problem solving processes, prove math theories on video, demonstrate steps in problem solving,  investigate spatial relations, video examples of theories in real life situations.

Science: Video science processes in nature, video science data (evidence of change over time), video science experiments, etc.

Social Studies: video reeinactment of historical events,  video speeches or law interpretations, etc. Video lobbying for a certain bill.

Foreign Language: create an ad or commercial in another language.  Assess mastery of language by having them to interpret foreign language on film.  Video a story told in a foreign language.

What do I need to get started?

An analog or digital video camcorder (look for these features: flip-out side screen, audio/video input, external microphone input)
Video Editing software
Video card for your computer (either analog or digital video)  Faster data transfer occurs with a digital video camera and a Firewire input.

Be sure to follow KETS purchasing guidelines when purchasing technology. Contact your DTC for assistance in purchasing procedures and sources of vendors.

Digital Video Camera Companies
Sony          Casio         Panasonic     JVC       Canon        Epson        Kodak         HP         Samsung

Editing Software for Your PC (Windows)
AVID Xpress DV V3      MovieWorks     ADOBE Premiere    Video Blender       VideoWave    Pinnacle  Ulead VideoStudio 6

If you purchase a Sony Vaio PC,  the video editing software is built in.  The PC also come equipped with the Firewire IEEE link for input of digital video.  For your existing classroom PC, you will need to contact your DTC to see what type of video card, etc that you will need.  The DTC will be responsible for the approval of installing anything into the districts computers.

 

What other purpose does Video Production serve in the classroom?

Video production lends itself to enhancing the creative and thoughtful writing  process.  It forces cooperative learning and teamwork. It provides students with the opportunity to solve problems,  see other paradigms, and think about the final visual product and the interpretations that may be made by the viewers.  It also allows  the students  to self-evaluate their achievement by giving them immediate feedback.   More importantly, it provides the students with reinforcement of the core content as well as the ability to assess their roles as video viewers in the commercial realm.

 

The information for this article was based on the experiences of the author as well as the article
Video Production: Amazing Tools for Teaching and Learning
by Nikos Theodosakis.

B. Darlene Combs, 2002 

 

 

 


 

 

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