Our students want to create.
Our students have a strong desire to share their creations.
As a result, they naturally spend many hours after school doing just that-through social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube and DeviantART. According to the 2007 PEW research study it was discovered that a whopping 64% of online teens share photos, videos and art they have created with their friends-a number that is surely higher today. We also know that 93% of students utilize the internet and view the work of other students online. What an opportunity for us "Academics" to utilize this knowledge and have students create something that we have encouraged and will appreciate.
The best place I have seen to utilize this concept is SchoolTube (www.schooltube.com). This is a "website dedicated to student video and media sharing for entertainment and classroom use." (SchoolTube's own description). Since there are moderators, explicit or inappropriate material does not make it into the site. A classroom or school is able to have their own channel, thus shining a spotlight on "your own" community. Similar to YouTube, it is easy to navigate and user friendly. SchoolTube has a fantastic Techcorner for educators that is full of resources. Some examples include: lesson plans and PDF forms, scoring rubrics, student code of ethics papers to sign, tips for moderators, easy "getting started" videos, etc. As a result, there is no excuse why a school would not able to find at least one teacher willing to set up accounts. This could easily be utilized both at school and at home. Our sister school (a traditional K-8) has been using this site with great success. I am very excited to get started on using it this fall with our school.
The students at our school are aged 5-13 and are homeschooled. There are virtually hundreds of different textbooks that are used for various subjects and grade levels. Therefore, students could be given the following assignment: "Create a 30 second video commercial showcasing your favorite school textbook." Those who are able could videotape it at home and those who do not have the technology would come to our Apple computer lab and make the movie there. Videotaping is a great assignment because it requires planning, a written script, cooperation with others, and numerous other "educational pursuits." The best thing about making videos, though, is the ability for students to create something original. Their particular strengths can be showcased. As Ken Robinson said in his speech "Many highly talented, brilliant, creative people think they're not because the thing they were good at at school wasn't valued.." (Sir Ken Robinson, February 2006, Monterey, CA.) This site encourages them to be creative.
Since many of our students are involved in the arts, they could videotape a performance and have a clip placed on our channel. We would also be able to post highlights from guitar class recitals, 8th grade PowerPoint presentations, etc. The possibilities are endless and the students would finally be able to create something on their own time to share with their friends, family, school and safe strangers all across the globe. The time is NOW!
Resources:
PEW Internet and American Life Project, 2007
Ken Robinson speech
www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.
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