Lights, Camera, ACTION! Students as Filmmakers In and Out of the Classroom

Description

Lights, Camera, ACTION! Students as Filmmakers In and Out of the Classroom
3 Inservice Credits/45 hours, Instructor: Evan Behlivanis, October 1-30, December 15-January15, February 1-28, March 1-30, July 1-30, August 1-30

Are you looking for a new way to engage your students?  Teachers often typecast themselves into the same content area specialist roles.  But with filmmaking you can reimagine the classroom experience from the first “action” to the last “cut!”  Giving your students the tools to create their own tentpole blockbusters is a way you can involve them in course content in class or at home! Now more than ever students need the tools to manage anxiety while growing academically… and this creative modality could be just the ticket!  This course will guide participants to prepare materials and lessons that will help classroom students create and share their own films.  Participants will learn how to teach students filmmaking strategies using a culturally responsive teaching approach that encourages the development of a growth mindset and creative problem solving skills.  Participants will learn how to create activities that engage all learners at all grade levels and content areas.  Throughout the course, participants will benefit from independent research opportunities, access to learning partners, forum discussions with other participants, self-evaluation forms, instructor resources, reflection tasks, and lessons on how to incorporate filmmaking techniques into their daily lessons.  Participation in this course will allow a shift to take place in the classroom – from teaching students using technology with rudimentary software applications to creating films independently and collaboratively that demonstrate ownership of academic criteria.

A wide variety of strategies and resources aimed at basic filmmaking, sharing digital media and utilizing virtual tools will be shared throughout the course.  Participants will design instructional tools for students and parents that enable them to capitalize on technology they already possess. Participants will also design resources for assessing and supporting filmmaking in the classroom.  The course will also require participants to create tasks and activities that give classroom students authentic practice to help them best prepare for content area mastery through collaboration and communication. These assignments and others will ensure that participants are well-prepared with a wide array of resources, strategy sheets, lessons, and activities that will empower students to use technology to express content-based work through film.  This course is suitable for all grades in all content areas.