Compile a small selection of videos that explore a range of film-making techniques. You may find the Case study examples, available under the Text icon above, a useful starting point to collect together up to six examples. Use the Video analysis worksheet, also available under the Text icon above, to analyse each film. If you are working with colleagues, take time to discuss each video.
Next, referring to the subject areas you identified in Activity 1, draw up a shortlist of project ideas to discuss with colleagues. This provides you with the opportunity to explore a variety of options before choosing the most appropriate project to focus on.
Direction – find your inspiration
Bringing history to life, filming field trips, creating a video montage of class – the ways in which you can incorporate DV into your lessons are endless and limited only by your imagination.
Your project must have clear objectives and outcomes. Start by asking yourself: ‘Is the use of video going to enhance the lesson or is it just going to transform what could be a good lesson into a technical disaster?’ This question will be driven by the learning outcomes and objectives of the lesson, as discussed at the start of this unit.
There are endless ways in which you can bring DV into lessons, from history projects that use DV to explore past events, to filming swimming practice so that swimmers can observe their technique. Other examples include:
School projects: field trips; filming assemblies or sporting events; a video tour of your school is a great thing to show new students and parents.
Class activities: filming participation in projects; collages to show at open house.
Class projects: make video an option for some of your more involved class projects. Let students create their own video to show important learning and skills.
Extra-curricular activities: such as making videos for other years or classes, the school choir or sports teams; demonstrating how to learn a skill, such as play an instrument.
When choosing a project to do in class, ask for the input of students so that they have a sense of ownership and feel part of the decision-making process.
Now look at Activity 2.
Unit Resources
