Digital Video

"Digital Video"

Hoffenberg, H., & Handler, M. (2001). Digital video goes to school. Learning and Leading with technology, 29(2), 10-15.

There are many skills that students develop by making a video. First at least one of the students in the group will need to learn how to use technology to capture video and later edit and put it all together. Another thing that the students learn is how to work as a group especially as these kinds of projects often require them to meet outside of school to work on the project.
The kinds of video formats that work best as a culminating activity are either a documentary or possibly a newscast that demonstrates just what the students have learned. The types of curriculum that make the most sense for a video are when the students want to show a process, to tell a story, or to bring to light an issue that the students feel strongly about.

There may be specific guidelines for video use in the classroom that vary by district or school but here are general ones. First the teacher needs to make sure that all of the students will have access to the technology required by the project and enough time to complete the project (either in class or outside of it). Also a teacher should be an expert on using the technology themselves in order to help students who are new to it and with overcoming technical difficulties. The biggest general guideline is that a teacher needs to be well prepared long before the technology is ever introduced to the classroom. Once the project starts the teacher should be ready to help guide the students through the planning process so that they get started going in the right direction.