In this project I will be working with 6th, 7th, and 8th graders teaching them how to video-edit, using such devices as peripherals, vc cams, and digital cameras. My goal is to teach students how to approach a project, organize it, and follow through to produce a video product at the end. The project begins in Sept, as each student in the elective class is given a video release (permission from parents to be videotaped). Students are then trained on the cameras and peripherals, and go out and record events. The videos taken are organized into categories (sports, dances, field trips, etc). Students interested in leadership then write a one page essay on why they feel the would be capable of leading a video or paper yearbook committee. They are then interviewed, and leaders for each committee are chosen. These leaders in turn have sign-ups for other students, and the project continues under the student leadership.

This project connects the middle school students to each other in ways they may not normally associate as they record the events for the project. It helps promote a sense of identity for themselves and their fellow classmates and school, as all (video-released) students are recorded for these video-memories.

The skills learned in this project will allow students to reapply them them into other areas of their life, making possible an endless number of their own class projects, reports and other creative endeavors. The techniques of video editing, and the use of digital cameras and digital video recorders will be useful to them their entire school career. This project develops leadership skills in promising students, and allows them to work independently with tech support when needed. Student choice is reflected in all the decisions the students will make during a project, from what to video-record, what to edit, and how they want the final product to look. Students will have their own evaluation of their project by how pleased they are with their final product.

I would like monetary support to purchase a DVD/CD burner and additional memory for four iMac computers. The DVD burner would make it possible to copy the video onto a DVD, which would make the video of better quality. iMovie will only work with sufficient memory in the computer, at least 256 MB. Last year we had a breakdown because of insufficient memory, and I had to have another instructor loan me their memory so we were able to complete our project. My salary is provided through the school district.