Creating resources to Creating resources to support the use of digital support the use of digital

video in literacyvideo in literacy

Kathryn JoyKathryn JoyAboyne Lodge SchoolAboyne Lodge School

Hertfordshire LEAHertfordshire LEADecember 2003December 2003

The LEA ProjectThe LEA Project

To develop To develop material which material which offers guidance, offers guidance, support and support and literacy lesson literacy lesson resources for the resources for the digital cameradigital camera

School ContextSchool Context

1 form entry primary school in St. Albans1 form entry primary school in St. Albans

Children from a wide range of Children from a wide range of backgrounds and abilitiesbackgrounds and abilities

Work to be undertaken initially in Year 1 Work to be undertaken initially in Year 1 and Year 6 classesand Year 6 classes

Aspects of work in schoolAspects of work in school

Curriculum development – to embed the Curriculum development – to embed the use of digital video in the literacy use of digital video in the literacy curriculumcurriculum

Work with Year 1 on the subject of Work with Year 1 on the subject of ‘information’‘information’

Work with Year 6 on writing scripts and Work with Year 6 on writing scripts and making short ‘films’making short ‘films’

Planning and PreparationPlanning and Preparation

School invested in 4 digital cameras – cost of School invested in 4 digital cameras – cost of £85 each from TAG£85 each from TAGStaff training organised – some attended Herts Staff training organised – some attended Herts course, others came to ‘in school’ training run by course, others came to ‘in school’ training run by county ICT advisercounty ICT adviserIn class, needed to be sure of extra adult help In class, needed to be sure of extra adult help for initial stages (e.g. student) and enough for initial stages (e.g. student) and enough space for filming to take placespace for filming to take placeSome parent help enlisted (Year 1)Some parent help enlisted (Year 1)Use of PC’s for editing – where and when?Use of PC’s for editing – where and when?

Curriculum developmentCurriculum development

Staff meeting – all class teachers identified Staff meeting – all class teachers identified objectives from the objectives from the National Literacy StrategyNational Literacy Strategy which they felt which they felt could offer opportunities for the use of could offer opportunities for the use of digital videodigital video

Year 1 and Year 6 to trial the work in Year 1 and Year 6 to trial the work in 2003/04 – view to embedding it in the 2003/04 – view to embedding it in the curriculum across the school for 2004/05curriculum across the school for 2004/05

The Year 1 projectThe Year 1 project

Working with a parent Working with a parent in groups of 4in groups of 4

Talk first – what is Talk first – what is information?information?

Shown how to use the Shown how to use the cameracamera

Looked around school Looked around school for examples of for examples of informationinformation

The Year 6 projectThe Year 6 project

Children working in groups of 6Children working in groups of 6

Scripts written in literacy lessons, other Scripts written in literacy lessons, other films watched for filming techniquesfilms watched for filming techniques

Storyboards agreed in groupsStoryboards agreed in groups

Shown how to use the cameraShown how to use the camera

Films made independently in groups Films made independently in groups (some lunchtimes needed)(some lunchtimes needed)

Work evaluatedWork evaluated

Recording the workRecording the work

Evidence:Evidence: Scripts in children’s booksScripts in children’s books

StoryboardsStoryboards

Clips and Films – Clips and Films – held on held on school PC’sschool PC’s

Evaluations of what Evaluations of what learnt,learnt, written written

by the childrenby the children

Benefits of class workBenefits of class work

All children very All children very motivated by the workmotivated by the work

True sense of ‘purpose’ True sense of ‘purpose’ to the work (especially to the work (especially the script writing)the script writing)

Collaborative working in Collaborative working in mixed abilitymixed ability groups groups

Speaking and Listening Speaking and Listening skills – language requiredskills – language required

Learnt new skills; use of Learnt new skills; use of the camera/ editingthe camera/ editing

And we had fun too!And we had fun too!

Using the camera - issuesUsing the camera - issuesChildren: Not keeping the button down for long Children: Not keeping the button down for long enough – encouraged to count to at least 5 when enough – encouraged to count to at least 5 when filming a clipfilming a clipKeeping quiet in the background, so speech heardKeeping quiet in the background, so speech heardKeeping out of shot (need to be behind the camera)Keeping out of shot (need to be behind the camera)Moving the camera slowly to avoid blurringMoving the camera slowly to avoid blurringNeed encouraging to name clips as they go along, Need encouraging to name clips as they go along, or is impossible to identify themor is impossible to identify themShould delete as much as possible as they go alongShould delete as much as possible as they go alongManagement: Exporting clips from digital blue Management: Exporting clips from digital blue requires a memory stick or can be written to CD and requires a memory stick or can be written to CD and played back through media player. Takes time!played back through media player. Takes time!

What we learnt – by Year 6What we learnt – by Year 6

You need a script so you can know exactly You need a script so you can know exactly what to say and do, Tierney what to say and do, Tierney

You have to speak loudly and slowly You have to speak loudly and slowly because if you don’t people won’t because if you don’t people won’t understand what you are saying, Zahinunderstand what you are saying, Zahin

You have to keep the button still, GeorginaYou have to keep the button still, Georgina

You have to move slowly or else your film You have to move slowly or else your film will be all wobbly and will be ruined, Curtiswill be all wobbly and will be ruined, Curtis

You need to have one person saying ‘cut’ You need to have one person saying ‘cut’ or ‘action’ or the camera person gets or ‘action’ or the camera person gets mixed up, Alicemixed up, AliceYou need to use your storyboards to help You need to use your storyboards to help you, Marissayou, MarissaMake sure that no-one except the actors Make sure that no-one except the actors are in the shot, Sophie Ellenare in the shot, Sophie EllenWhen you forget your words, improvise!, When you forget your words, improvise!, MaddyMaddy

What next?What next?

Teachers to write literacy lesson plans Teachers to write literacy lesson plans including digital blue (Jan 2004)including digital blue (Jan 2004)

Foundation Stage to begin using digital Foundation Stage to begin using digital blue camera for assessment purposes blue camera for assessment purposes (Spring 2004)(Spring 2004)

Curriculum map for 2004/05 to include Curriculum map for 2004/05 to include opportunities for use of digital blue, both in opportunities for use of digital blue, both in literacy and across the curriculumliteracy and across the curriculum

Digital BlueDigital BlueAboyne LodgeAboyne Lodge

December 2003December 2003