Creativity and Innovation

I want this blog to be relevant to K-12 teachers; therefore my first entries will focus on the topic of our school’s “video production studio.” The broadcasts provide a venue for students to be creative. Most of the ideas come from the students, and are done spontaneously within 20 minutes of the broadcast. Musical jingles on an old CD have been the inspiration behind many of the shows. Students started one newscast with a “50’s” dance to 70’s music (they didn’t know) and another with a spy theme in which they snuck up to the anchor desks as spies. Monthly school themes have also provided inspiration. During “math” month they shared tricks for learning math facts such as “I ate and I ate until I got sick on the floor,” a rhyme to help students remember that 8 x 8 = 64. They have also “dressed” for the theme, wearing hats with math facts. We have had sports casts, school sing-a-longs, and advertisements for lost and found items. As I look at the skills identified by the Partnership for 21^st Century it is apparent that our daily broadcasts provide the environment for students to learn Creativity and Innovation, Communication and Collaboration, Media Literacy, and Life and Career Skills. I never envisioned the impact that a five minute show would have on students; both those involved behind the scenes and those viewing the broadcast.

Video Production

Video production in our kindergarten through sixth grade school has provided learning experiences for students that have exceeded my wildest expectations. They are writing for a purpose, taking responsibility for the shows, and learning how to present to an audience. This year we purchased televisions for classrooms where students view daily live broadcasts. Behind the scenes students work in a small room where we have one video camera, anchor desks, and a computer with PowerPoint that is used as a teleprompter. A typical broadcast begins with a welcome and then moves into the Pledge of Allegiance that is done by two different students each day. The Pledge is followed by the weather forecast and lunch choices. Our principal is introduced with what the students have termed “Birthday-O-Rama” to recognize birthdays and any other announcements. Broadcasts have included sports, interviews, school sing-a-longs, skits, riddles, weird facts, jokes, mini-lessons, and read-a-louds since our first broadcast in November of 2007. Most broadcasts take approximately five minutes. Students are responsible for the entire production: generating ideas for the content, writing and editing the scripts, operating the camera and computer, presenting the news, and directing the broadcast. I am always amazed at their enthusiasm and initiative to create a show that is interesting for the other students in the school.