One thing that teachers try to do, hope to do, is have students take the lesson beyond the book, beyond the classroom. Teachers can use the current digital technology to allow students a creative production and publishing assignment. Instead of the standard posterboard presentation, why not create a deleted scene movie for a novel. You might not even need any extra equipment. The video can most likely be shot with a student’s cell phone and emailed to a computer for editing in the computer lab. Students can be creative and go outside the boundaries of the normal classroom presentation. A movie could have a few students (3-5). After completing the movie the kids could publish their video on Youtube or even as a feature on your school website (certain copyright precautions may have to be taken).
Not every student is going to be an actor, editor, and camera operator. Open up possibilities that match up with other types of learners. A soundtrack to the book, a photo montage via cell phone, creating a board game, creating original songs and recording them, writing an extra chapter, etcetera. All of these options have the potential to be published. One could almost look at this option as a virtual hallway in which anyone can visit. The communication devices that have been created over the last five years do not only transmit verbal communication, but artistic communication as well. We (teachers) should capitalize on the technology and the current trend in teenage communication.
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Having subbed for media instructors, I would encourage you to set up strict parameters for such a project. In my experience, students screw off for much of the time when these types of projects are assigned. Consider the type of student who will be responsible with equipment and time. I think the maturity level of the students need to be taken in account. It sounds like a fascinating and engaging project so I hope you can figure out a purpose that the students will respect.
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