This time of year, spooky things happen. Some can be explained, but many others can't. Maybe it's the full moon, the change of the seasons, the weather, or the flu season to blame. Or maybe, just maybe, it's the student buy-in piece that all of a sudden creates an incredible desire to create incredible products using the tools that they have. We may never be able to explain the transition as we watch our little Frankensteins become the Mozarts of Multimedia. In all honesty, we don't really need to.
This time of year, students are becoming increasingly comfortable with the technology and tools that they have at their disposal in the classroom and outside of it. They have had more than 2 months to get comfortable in their new setting and are ready for a challenge. Now is the time to challenge our students and make them use process-based learning to create a truly incredible product. For example, check out the video of this haunted classroom:
This time of year, students are becoming increasingly comfortable with the technology and tools that they have at their disposal in the classroom and outside of it. They have had more than 2 months to get comfortable in their new setting and are ready for a challenge. Now is the time to challenge our students and make them use process-based learning to create a truly incredible product. For example, check out the video of this haunted classroom:
Now that is scary! For a minute there, I thought the students were actually learning something! Oh wait... They have learned teamwork, movie editing, stop-motion movie-making, and so much more. This is just one small example of how a multimedia project using a multitude of strategies can keep students engaged and allow them to truly embrace the concept of a 21st century classroom. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume some ideas here: this is an elementary classroom, an elementary project, and it gave all students involved in the project a deeper understanding of movie-making.
From here, these same students can use the concepts that they have learned to create standards-based films that reach far beyond the traditional education model. Imagine these same students being given the task of doing a book report using the same methods that they have learned (I would love to see their product!). All of a sudden, an elementary school class is doing stop-motion video production for book reports, word problems, historical events, science experiments, and so much more. Keep in mind - elementary school.
"Life has no limitations, except the ones you make" - Les Brown
As soon as we stop limiting our students, they will start being creative. As educators, we are the Colin Clive of the classroom. We are given the task of creating a monster that can think for himself, all from scratch. It's a daunting chore, especially when we handcuff our students to the textbooks, worksheets, and a culture of mass repetition. Replacing this concept is difficult, but necessary if there is any intent to move forward. Colin needed room to be creative and develop his thoughts into what we know now as Frankenstein.
From here, these same students can use the concepts that they have learned to create standards-based films that reach far beyond the traditional education model. Imagine these same students being given the task of doing a book report using the same methods that they have learned (I would love to see their product!). All of a sudden, an elementary school class is doing stop-motion video production for book reports, word problems, historical events, science experiments, and so much more. Keep in mind - elementary school.
"Life has no limitations, except the ones you make" - Les Brown
As soon as we stop limiting our students, they will start being creative. As educators, we are the Colin Clive of the classroom. We are given the task of creating a monster that can think for himself, all from scratch. It's a daunting chore, especially when we handcuff our students to the textbooks, worksheets, and a culture of mass repetition. Replacing this concept is difficult, but necessary if there is any intent to move forward. Colin needed room to be creative and develop his thoughts into what we know now as Frankenstein.
Maybe not to the extent of Dr. Frankenstein, but we have all felt that feeling of success when something that we have worked so hard to do finally pays off. When students create something that is truly meaningful and from the heart, "It's Alive!" is translated into that feeling of complete and overwhelming joy. Insert the use of technology and there are projects that would rival the some of the more professional productions out there. One of our colleagues and fellow Palm Springs Unified School District teachers, Matt Cauthron, runs an incredible Digital Arts and Technology Academy at Cathedral City High School. If you want impressive products, check THIS out. High School students creating professional products that rival some of the most talented photographers and film-makers out there.
As the leaves begin to change color and the holiday decorations come out from Halloween to Thanksgiving and beyond, it is the perfect time for us to challenge our students with whatever technology we can offer. Whether it's using something like the iPad (or any other tablet for that matter), iPod, laptop, desktop, video camera, or digital still camera, there are plenty of ways for students to prove mastery of the standards that you are currently working on in your classroom and make it come Alive! Who knows, your classroom might just become "Scary Fun!"
John Stevenshttp://about.me/john.stevens
Follow me on Twitter @jstevens009
Email me at jstevens1@psusd.us
As the leaves begin to change color and the holiday decorations come out from Halloween to Thanksgiving and beyond, it is the perfect time for us to challenge our students with whatever technology we can offer. Whether it's using something like the iPad (or any other tablet for that matter), iPod, laptop, desktop, video camera, or digital still camera, there are plenty of ways for students to prove mastery of the standards that you are currently working on in your classroom and make it come Alive! Who knows, your classroom might just become "Scary Fun!"
John Stevenshttp://about.me/john.stevens
Follow me on Twitter @jstevens009
Email me at jstevens1@psusd.us
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