VIDEOS PROJECTS enable student choice

Video projects can personalize instruction but some teachers are hesitant to assign them because they don't know how.  With 11 years of experience in teaching various levels of video production, here are some tips that I give to teachers looking to assign and assess videos.

On the forefront of the personalization movement is student choice.  Student choice drives up student engagement and invites students to take ownership over their learning.  With the technology tools available in the classroom today, this is more possible than ever.  Assigning a video project can personalize students' learning experiences by offering choices and allowing them certain creative control, while also assessing their knowledge. As an added bonus, they learn to use a new tool of technology.

At the 2020 Garden State Summit in New Jersey, I delivered a presentation solely on assigning and assessing videos called "Student Choice = Video."  Here is the link to that presentation:  bit.ly/HTWSVideo20. 

If you're a teacher that is ready to incorporate video projects into your curriculum, here are my tips for you:
​
VIDEO PROJECT IDEAS

• INTRODUCTION  - TEACHER, STUDENT, ADMIN
• ​VIDEO TUTORIALS - EDUCATIONAL, DEMONSTRATION VIDEO (QUICK VID), SCREENCAST → maybe w/SLIDES
• NEWS PACKAGES/BROADCASTS
• INTERVIEW
• VLOG/PODCAST
• STOP-MOTION ANIMATION - Maybe w/SLIDES + SCREENCASTIFY
• RE-RECORD LIVE COMMENTATING - SPORTS OR FASHION SHOW
• ​PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS - PROM or TEXTING & DRIVING
• BOOK or MOVIE REVIEW or TRAILER
• GREEN SCREEN
• MESSAGE TO PARENTS
• DIGITAL STORYTELLING → FAV. STORY - MODERNIZE A FAIRYTALE
• MUSIC VIDEOS - VOCAB RAP → PI DAY
• COMMERCIALS - COMMUNITY EVENTS or LOCAL BUSINESSES
• PRODUCT PITCH → SHARK TANK
• MOCK ELECTION
• FAMOUS SPEECH RECREATION
• THANK YOU NOTES
• TOUR OF SCHOOL (CRIBS) or CLASSROOM (Day 1 Expectations)
• ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

ASSIGNING A VIDEO

• PROJECT INTRODUCTION 
  • SHOW EXAMPLE PROJECTS SO THAT YOUR STUDENTS KNOW YOUR EXPECTATIONS:  CREATE YOUR OWN, FIND A SIMILAR EXAMPLE ON YOUTUBE, USE FORMER STUDENT SUBMISSIONS AS SAMPLES

• BE VERY *CLEAR* ON
  • ​PROJECT REQUIREMENTS - GROUP SIZE, VIDEO DURATION, DATES FOR LIST CHECKS & DEADLINES
  • EXPECTATIONS & GRADING - GRADING CRITERIA & RUBRIC, # OF SHOTS optional, WILL YOU REQUIRE ORIGINAL SOUND & FOOTAGE
• HAVE THE STUDENTS CREATE COLLABORATIVE TO DO LIST - THESE CAN BE USED FOR DO NOWS &/OR CLASS CLOSURE ON "PRODUCTION DAYS."  STUDENTS CAN USE GOOGLE DOCS or GOOGLE KEEP (BLOG POST HERE!)
  
  

ASSIGNING (& GRADING) A VIDEO
This section is graded.  The links are active and will bring you to samples that I use in class.  Please feel free to make copies of the content and use the material yourself!

• PRE-PRODUCTION WRITE-UP (& another)
  • EVERY PROJECT BEGINS WITH A PRE-PRODUCTION WRITE UP. THE INFORMATION GATHERED DURING THIS WILL HELP THE STUDENTS PLAN THEIR PROJECT.  THIS INCLUDES:
    • GROUP MEMBERS/RESPONSIBILITIES
    • SUMMARY, TREATMENT, or ELEVATOR PITCH
    • SHOT LIST (# of shots required?! OPTIONAL)
    • SHOOTING PLAN (DATES, LOCATIONS)
    • AUDIO USED → YOUTUBE AUDIO LIBRARY
• TWO GRADED CHECKS (OPTIONAL) - RAW FOOTAGE CHECK & EDITING CHECK (1/2 DONE)
• DEADLINE
  • STUDENTS WILL EXPORT, UPLOAD (I USE YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), & SUBMIT (I USE GOOGLE FORMS & GOOGLE CLASSROOM)
• POST-PRODUCTION REACTION
  • AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT, STUDENTS WILL REFLECT ON THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, GROWTH, & GROUP INVOLVEMENT.  THIS WILL IMPRINT THE INFORMATION LEARNED DURING THE PROJECT AND ALSO LET ME KNOW IF GROUP MEMBERS DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE 100%........ 
• FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATION
  • ON PRESENTATION DAY, STUDENTS WILL PRESENT THEIR PROJECT BY READING THEIR RESPONSES FROM THE POST-PRODUCTION REACTION FORM.
• TEACHER & PEER EVALUATION

FINAL THOUGHTS
Finally, DON'T GET OVERWHELMED.  This list of recommendations took YEARS of trial and error.  If you are thinking about assigning video in your class, go for it!  

To conclude, here are some of my final thoughts:

• DON'T DO THE PROJECT FOR THEM
• ​HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS - VIDEOS > 5 MINUTES ARE TOO BIG!!
• USE SUBMISSIONS ON GOOGLE FORMS AS SAMPLE ARCHIVE SHEET FOR NEXT YEAR EXAMPLES!
  • ​CREATE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL/PLAYLIST W/FAVS
• AS MENTIONED BEFORE, BE CLEAR ON YOUR GRADING & ASSESSMENT DATES
• ​EVERY PROJECT STARTS WITH A SLATE - IT IS LIKE PUTTING THEIR NAME ON THEIR PAPER.  OUR SLATES HAVE  NAME, SCHOOL, MO/YR., PROJECT TITLE
• EVERY PROJECT END WITH FADE TO BLACK - THIS IS OPTIONAL BUT ADDS A NICE CLEAN, PROFESSIONAL FEEL
• PREMIERE DAY CAN BE FUN!!  WHO'S BRINGING THE POPCORN!?
• ​THE FIRST TIME WILL BE CHAOS!

Use this list as a guide to help you along the way.  Again, don't get overwhelmed.  If you need help, please reach out, if you have any recommendations, leave them in the comments, and if you make any great examples or end up with some ROCKSTAR submissions from your kids, SHARE THEM!

---