Ignite, Engage, Inspire

Greatly inspired by Marco Torres‘ presentation entitled ‘Ignite, Engage, Inspire’, my colleague Jocelyn left saying, “I am going to try something new tomorrow.” Undeterred by the fact that she is not an experienced film-maker and had never touched an iPad, the plan was to have her students create films, using iPads.

Aim:

Create a film to express the essence of the social inequity that you have explored for your personal inquiry.

Process:

• Write a key sentence for your social inequity that has  possibilities for a story.
• Highlight key ideas in the sentence that you will use in your story.
• Create a story-board by telling the story in words.
• Include directions for camera angles such as: Wide establishing shot to set the scene, medium shot to draw you into the character and story, close-up to show emotion, over the shoulder shot to show someone’s point of view, bird’s eye view for effect.
• Create a story-board in pictures, showing exactly who stands where and does what. 
• No more than 6 frames. At the top of each box write the camera angle.
• Camera, lights, action with an i-pad of course!
• Edit in i-movie and insert text and music.
• Get excited by what you have achieved!

I stood alongside Hannah, Oliver and Bianca as they filmed. I learned a great deal as I watched these 12 year-olds create a film, scene by scene, from their well thought out story-board…. not just about film making, but about engaging and meaningful learning. The only practical thing I did to help, was to stand in a particular place to block the sunlight, in order to enable a better shot. Always nice to feel useful!

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Result:

Here’s an example of what kids can create in just a few hours:

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Observations:

• All the so called 21st century skills in action: creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking.
• A huge range of trans-disciplinary skills, including planning, decision making, writing, filming, organisation, time management, cooperation….
• Seamless integration of technology into learning.
• Authentic involvement of the ICT Facilitator and Teacher Librarian (Ours is so much more than that!), unlike the isolated weekly lessons they used to give a year or so ago.
• Meaningful use of our new iPads to enhance the learning and achieve an end.
• True inquiry, as students experimented with the iPads and iMovie and figured out for themselves how to achieve the results they wanted.
• A learning community, in which several teachers were involved in learning along with the students.
• An unbelievable level of engagement and excitement about learning… for students and teachers alike.

Conclusions:

• Letting go of control and handing over the learning to the students can have outstanding results.
• If you have an idea, run with it. Don’t wait for a better time, particular conditions or permission to try. What’s the worst that can happen? (If you read this blog, you will recognise that mantra).

Ignite, engage, inspire? I think so!