Teaching Kids Video - advice...?

dustino

dustino

Well-known member
Hello,
I just took a job teaching an afterschool program one day a week at an inner-city school. I'm teaching video. The class is about 15 students 5th-8th grade. Class is 1.5 hrs.

I've taught art camps before but never video. Just wondering if anyone who might have done this before might have suggestions or advice - especially with respect to projects. If you know of any websites with project ideas that would be especially helpful. Thanks in advance!
 
When I was in high school, we did some fun projects like spoof television commercials, and also in-camera edits where you shoot in the order of the edit, and see how it comes out. Also, it's fun to show them movies and commercials maybe they have never seen and explain how they were done, some of the Weiden and Kennedy Nike ads might be interesting.....
 
BLUESPIDER said:
Just make it fun and don't force them to learn, let them want to learn. You get better results. Good luck.
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That's true. No one likes being forced into learning anything.

Find out what they know, what they want to know and where their interests are. Also, on the first day, try and find out why the kids are in the class and what they think they are going to do as well as what they'd like to do. That will help you figure out some project ideas.
 
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Contact Brandon Rice. If anyone on these boards is an authority on kids videos it's him. He does it for a living.
 
Kholi said:
Contact Brandon Rice. If anyone on these boards is an authority on kids videos it's him. He does it for a living.
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Him and his creepy narrator guy from that fundraiser thing. JK.

Just make it look appealing. At school, they fill our heads with this pathetic looking video with people dressed like they are from the 80s even though it was made in 2003. And dont make it seem like its educational- you'll get that irritable tzee sound from a bunch of bored children.
 
I just stepped out of 8 years of involvment with Middle- and High-School video. And no doubt i'll be back involved again in the future, it's so worth it.

The comment about making it fun is super important.

Get them using the cameras as much as possible, followed by editing. let them do, and give them all the possibileties you can.
Amongst this, mix in some of the important lessons of video; some theory, respect and care for the equipment [curcial if you want the gear to last], teach them some of the history too. And make sure they they always watch what they make. Give them some "cool" toys to try out too. What students can create with a green-screen and some knowledge of slow-motion is amazing!
Mix in some slightly more 'boring' bits when necessary, be sure to teach them "why" as well as "how" - if they are interested they will be asking this themselves too. What we have now is based on a history of reasons. Have them edit something using just 2 VCRs, then they will understand what the computer does and why we prefer it.

And add in some occasional extra jazz and excitement too. Do a movie evening with either a good movie to critique, or perhaps their own work - but bring in pizza & drinks too. Does the school have an internal TV channel? Or maybe a local cableTV sompany has a educational access channel. Look into geting some of the students best work shown "on TV".
Take them on a field trip or two if you can. Call up your local TV station, chances are that they will be more than happy to have your class come in some afternoon to see how the news is made and meet the anchors etc... This will not only increase interest but also link back to what they are dooing as they will recognize and asociate with what "the pros" do.

Then after all that, start worrying about what gear and facileties you have? Is it 2 cameras and a iMac, or 5 camers in a studio with a control room? - these things are peanuts compared to what the students actually do. If you have some educational standards to meet, figure out how to apply what is beeing done to meet them too.

One great site with lots of good links & information is www.schooltv.com

Oh yeah, and remember always to have fun!

- Mikko
 
Also stick to something they think is cool like a music video. They will brag to everyone that they are creating a music video and take ownership. Teach them that this is art and its all subjective and not to get caught up in what other people say. Teach them to creatively critique with well thought out ideas and observations. Watch other videos and ask what their responses are and why.
Our Innovation Nation show was with this age group and you will be surprised how knowledgable these kids really are and how much they really want to learn. You also have to put up with the jockeying for attention and smart mouthing that comes with them. Half our footage was unusable because of the remarks and jokes they said. They definitly pay attention to life and have their own views on life. The biggest thing like someone said, MAKE IT FUN!!! relate to them on their level get in there and make jokes too. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. However, after learning more details, I had to bail on the job. It's HIGHLY unorganized and the pay is way lower than I realized once factoring in all of the planning and organizing this program needs. The money is less important than all of the extra time I can't afford to sacrifice right now. I also found out I'm the third person in a row to bail on this job once they learned the details so it's not just me who finds this unreasonable. Oh well, I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for a similar opportunity because I was getting really excited about this before finding out how woefully unorganized this particular program is.
 
dustino said:
[...] after learning more details, I had to bail on the job. It's HIGHLY unorganized and the pay is way lower than I realized once factoring in all of the planning and organizing this program needs.
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Eh... yeah, that unfortunatly (often) comes with the terretory..

mikkowilson said:
I just stepped out of 8 years of involvment with Middle- and High-School video.
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...if only the powers that be understood what it took to teach video. :violin:


Some places are organized and have money (I've heard of their exsistance). So all hope is not lost. But it's still beeing a teacher, and that's long underappreciated hours with low pay.

- Mikko
 
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