Video Projects for Digital Learners

"Humans are incredibly visual and powerful, moving images help us find meaning… [and] video helps capture and contextualize the world around us." - Dan Patterson

Get your copy of Hacking Digital Learning, The 30 Goals Challenge, or Learning to Go. Ask me about training your teachers, [email protected]!

Some of the most popular apps and social networks (Periscope, Instagram, Youtube, etc.) make it easy for anyone to quickly produce, publish, and share their videos. Chances are your students have already produced their own videos and shared them with the world. So why not have your students share their knowledge through video projects? Students can create video tutorials, silent films, screencasts, lip dubs, commercials, news reports, music videos, documentaries, movie trailers, video diaries, vodcasts, soap operas, stop motion films, machinimas, claymation, talk shows, and game shows. Keep reading to find many more ideas! In my books find editable handouts and rubrics for creating video projects. Additionally, find some ideas and tips below along with downloadable slides to get you and your students started.

Lights! Camera! Action! Video Projects from Shelly Sanchez Terrell

Tips

• Find free lesson plans and modules to walk students through the process of producing their own films here! 
• Before your students begin creating their videos make sure they consider their audience and know their camera settings.
• Introduce students to the Rule of Thirds.
• The process generally includes brainstorming; creating, gathering, and/or remixing content; recording; editing; feedback; final edits and production; uploading and publishing the video; and showing to an audience (class, school, parents, or the public).
• Storyboards help students brainstorm the characters, dialogue, plot, setting, props, background music, and special effects for their video projects. This is a storyboard template I created for you to copy and edit as you wish! 
• Students can edit their videos with Open Shot, ClipChamp, iMovie, WeVideo (recommended for Chromebooks), Splice (iOS) and VidEditor (Android). If students have smart devices, they will find their camera tool has editing features.  
• Some of my favorite video creation tools and apps for quick video productions, include Biteable, Powtoon, My Simple Show, WeVideo,  Animoto, Touchcast, Magisto, Wideo, and Dvolver. Find the links to these free tools in the bookmarks below.
• When your students finish their productions, try hosting a viewing party and inviting parents or other classes.  
• Remember to get students and parents to sign an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) form.
• ​Discover more video creation ideas by checking out these posts with my student projects:
  • ​​Fun Video Project! Produce a TV Commercial for an Invention
  • Student Project: Problem Solution Videos
  • DIY Video Lesson to Illustrate Process Analysis
  • Broadcast the News
  • Animated Character Videos
  • Screencast Video Tools
  • App Inventions
  • Go On Incredibly Fun Learning Adventures With These 10+ Amazing Green Screen Ideas!

Bookmarks

Find the tools listed above and many more resources in the bookmarks below:

Video Creation & Tools, by shellyterrell