Context:

During the Spring of 2007, I created the video assignment for CI 3750, Integrating Media and Technology in the Classroom. My Block I class did this assignment under the advisement of Jeff Goodman, the courses instructor. Mandy Crainer, Alexa Driggers, Nicole Little, and myself based our movie on the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. I played the part of two characters in the movie, and I also did some filming for the video and editing. I also chose the music that is in the background.

Impact:

This is a great lesson to use in any class, but especially in a fifth grade class. Students will take a book that they are familiar with and base a short video on that book. In groups, the students will choose their book and then develop a storyboard. They will then film the video, using their storyboard. After all of the filming, the students will edit their movie on the computer and add what they believe is necessary to it.

The video assignment meets the following standards from the North Carolina Standard Course of Study:

5th Grade Computer and Technology:

-Competency Goal 1

Objectives 1.12 and 1.13

-Competency Goal 3

Objectives 3.03 and 3.06

5th Grade Language Arts:

-Competency Goal 3

Objectives 3.01, 3.04 and 3.07

-Competency Goal 4

Objectives 4.01 and 4.10

-Competency Goal 5

Objectives 5.04 and 5.07

Alignment:

The following North Carolina Standards for Elementary School Teachers are met through this assignment:

Standard 1: Elementary teachers have a broad knowledge and understanding of the major concepts in English Language Arts and Literacy.

Indicator 5: Teachers know and understand that reading is taught as a process of constructing meaning through the interaction of the reader's existing knowledge, the information suggested by the written language, and the context of the reading situation.

By making a video that is based on a book, students will have to construct meaning from the book’s text. They will have to understand the book and its context to turn this into a video. They will take knowledge that they previously knew and the information from the book to make the video and demonstrate what they know. The movie will show their understanding of the characters, plot, setting, themes, and more.

The video assignment meets the following NETS-T Technology Standards for North Carolina:

Standard I. B- Demonstrate continual growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies.

I was able to use many current and emerging types of technology through the video assignment. For the filming portion of the assignment, we used camcorders. The footage we shot was then loaded onto Mac Computers in the school computer lab. We used the program iMovie for editing the video, as well as adding anything to it, such as music and the narration. The final product was then transferred into QuickTime for viewing. We then put our videos and the other groups videos on a DVD. I was able to learn a lot about Mac computers and editing through this assignment. iTunes was the only program used in this assignment that I had previously worked with. The editing, adding pictures from the Internet, transferring programs, writing DVD’s and everything else was new to me. This will be a great opportunity for students who have never done anything like this to try something new and use various forms of technology they are surrounded by. I was amazed by how much we were able to edit our movie with one program and in the amount of time we had.

Standard II. A- Design developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that apply technology- enhanced instructional strategies to support diverse needs of learners.

This assignment allows students to try various types of technology. All students will try out all of the components of the assignment. This way, all of the students will be able to film and edit the movie. They will be introduced to different ways of filming and editing videos. We spent time practicing how to film different shots and angles with the cameras. This will help students learn how to use the camera, as well as with the filming of the video. Visual learners will be able to see what the steps are to editing a video. Hands on learners will actually be able to do the different steps on their own to edit and film their movie. Auditory learners will be able to hear the process of the assignment as the teacher tells them what to do and as they discuss as a group what they need to do. Since each group member will have to participate in all the various aspects of making a video, they will be able to learn what to do and help teach the rest of the group what they are supposed to be doing.

Standard II. D- Plan the management of technology resources within the context of learning activities.

Students will be put in groups to make this assignment work. Teachers will need to get access to camcorders and computers that are equipped with the correct programs to edit a movie. Students will be given an allotted amount of time to choose their book and create their storyboard. They will then have a set amount of time to do the necessary filming and editing of their movie.

Standard II. E- Plan strategies to manage student learning in a technology enhanced environment.

I plan on showing my video to the class and other ones to help manage student learning. By seeing an example, they will know what they should be doing and see what they can do with technology. Having students use camcorders and computers is a great way for students to learn in a technology based environment. Having students film and edit this assignment on their own will force them to learn what they are doing. They will have to have an understanding of technology for this assignment to be successful. They will also see how movies and television shows are made. They will learn how to add music and other background noises to a video. Students will also have to learn how to put their movies on QuickTime and then on a DVD.

Standard VI. A- Model and teach legal and ethical practice related to technology use.

This standard is met by sending home a media release form to student’s parents in English and Spanish. This is required by law to be signed by student’s parents in order to film or publish a student.

Standard VI. B- Teachers apply technology resources to enable and empower learners with diverse backgrounds, characteristics, and abilities.

All students will use technology resources with this assignment, as well as learn from them. By having students choose their own books, they are able to choose books with diverse characters and backgrounds, or a book they have an interest in. They will use their creativity to make storyboards and a video that is based on any book. Students will be able to use their diverse backgrounds, characteristics, and abilities to complete their video and make it their own. This will also allow students' own personalities and experiences to be showcased.