A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

This past year we were able to put into place7 display televisions at various locations on our campus. They run continuously throughout the day playing vocabulary words, slides that build on reading, math, writing, concepts, math facts, student success stories, campus happenings…. Currently, I am making the videos every weekend to play the next week. The kids are mesmerized by what is on the screen. A thought came to me that it would be much more powerful for kids if the production they are seeing were created by their peers.
Kids as producers? I am thinking yes, yes, yes! My plan for the Kid Vids program is to put the power of video into the hands of 5th and 6th grade students. I would love for them to learn how to create the video productions while at the same time learning about the computer, interviewing skills, photography basics, and research skills. My plan is to have students apply to be in the Kid Vids program. They would be required to have passing grades, excellent behavior, and teacher recommendation. The students would have assignments each week for a piece of the video that they are required to work on. It might be vocabulary slides, interviewing a student of the week, finding a current event happening that they feel would be of interest to the campus…. Another possibility would be to connect with other campuses across the district via Face Time and get their input on various subjects, books read, current events….
After I get one group trained, I would start on round two and these experts would help train the next crew. In a matter of time our campus will be buzzing with video experts! In the future it would also be possible to expand the program to other grade levels.