Kids teaching kids with video...

Checkout the latest post on Mindshift about kids using video to teach each other.  It's engaging classroom activities that keeps kids focused and moving forward in their skill development and engaging in critical thinking.  Teachers: Do video projects sometimes overwhelm you though?

Here's a couple tips to help you manage them.

1. Create a project description and rubric for the students.  Students need concrete objectives, that are based on your curricular standards/objectives, so that you don't have to continually remind them throughout the project where they are going and what you expect from them.
2. Take the time to teach them how to use the tools and the software first, in just an overview. They won't remember nuts and bolts later and you will get frustrated by having to teach it twice.  Consider this that just-in-time teaching strategy, because they won't remember it unless they need it right now and can do it right now.  Also, when they engage in the learning through centers, one of the students in their group will remember different parts, some will remember all of it since it might hit on something they are personally interested in, like using the camera or editing their video with the software.  Some kids like making props, gathering costumes, etc.  With a checklist of responsibilities and tangible products, they can plan this out themselves and take on the responsibility...and they will thrive on that trust you place in them, as well as will hold each other accountable, because they need each piece to complete the project.  They will take more pride in their work.
3. Set up stations in the classroom to teach them each part of the process, from using the camera with a microphone (more on that in the next post), to story boarding and planning their shots. Spend one class period teaching them the entire process through stations or centers you rotate them through.  I always scheduled parent volunteers to help out or a community volunteer. Experts in the field are even better who'd like to volunteer some time in the classroom!
4. Finally, plan a way to not only publish their work, but to showcase it.  They love for people to view their work.  Have a presentation day where they share it either with each other, if it's for teaching concepts to each other, or to show it to their parents.  Make it a big deal!

I have some old resources I use to set up my centers that I got from a workshop with MHZLearn's education program in Arlington, VA.  I can't find the organization online anymore, so I assume when the station went national, they closed the local education program.  Email me if you'd like more information on the centers I created.  I've presented this method at the VSTE conference in the past, and love sharing how I manage this with other teachers. I will also discuss it in my next post.

I'm reading Micheal Fullan's book Stratosphere: Integrating Technology, Pedagogy, and Change Knowledge.  I find that the last piece is often where schools fall short in implementing new and innovative methods or tools. Published by Pearson in 2013, this small (100 page) information packed book covers the essentials of what to consider, plan for, and include in rolling out new methods or tools for technology integration if we are to meet the demands of the 21st Century learner.

In the Chapter 1 introduction Fullan said, "I won't say that these three forces--technology, pedagogy, and change knowledge--intentionally seek one another out in the stratosphere, but I can say that it is inevitable that they connect.  This book is about making that connection more explicit and more beneficial for humankind" (Fullan, 2013, p. 1).  With all the changes in our district recently--new Superintendent, Asst. Supt., Directors, Supervisors--it's important to bring things back down to what's important.  The vision is a target, but change management is key to making that vision a reality.

Keeping great people and getting them to buy-in should be a primary goal when managing change. The attitude that some organizations have that people are interchangeable flies in the face of what we know about managing change within the organization.  Fullan says, "This vision is incomplete for our stratosphere agenda because it omits pedagogy--it omits the teacher!  The teacher as change agent is crucial, or we will get aimless multi-tasking" (Fullan, 2013, p. 67).

What has been your experience in recent years of moving forward with technology integration in your school or district?