Using Storyboards & Movie Making to Develop Writing Skills

St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School

Paviter SinghMasters Candidate, HGSEpaviter@gmail.com

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The ContextStudents

Disengaged

Performing below grade level

Experienced Teachers

Blaming students for poor grades

Did not see the bene!t of using technology

Novice Teachers

Willing to try new approaches but did not have appropriate guidance

School

Interested in raising student achievement

Hoped to get teachers to improve approaches to instruction / teaching

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The ObjectiveStudents

Raise student engagement

Improve con!dence and familiarity with spoken and written English

Learn skills of listening, speaking, reading & writing in a creative and innovative way

Teachers

Demonstrate effective infusion of technology in learning

Create a community where teachers and students can learn from each other

School

Initiate a pilot program with the hope of expansion to the entire grade level

Whole school approach

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The ResourcesHardware

16 computers (2 for each group)

8 video cameras (1 for each group)

Software

Movie Making application

Time

7 training sessions of between 4 to 5 hrs

1 to 2 weeks for students to !lm

Finale where completed work is presented

Facilitators

Technical Instructors (Sinema Old School)

4 teachers

8 college students (one for each group)

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The ProjectStudent Outcomes

Have fun & be engaged

Develop greater con!dence in English speaking and writing

Develop skills in a variety of technology tools

Teacher Outcomes

Learn how different technology tools can be used in learning English

Realize that there are different approaches to teaching English that do not involve the textbook

Change culture/mindset with respect to English and how it is taught

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The ProjectThe Proposal

Get students to work in groups to create short movie clips

Story boarding, script writing and movie editing will give students the opportunity to practice and improve their language skills

Students to create a blog and post an entry after each training session

Lesson materials and communication regarding the project to be done online (website/email)

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The CurriculumSession 1: Finding a Story to Tell 1

Students watch clips from various short !lms and discuss

Character and character development

Background and setting

What story to tell and how to go about writing it

How to turn a story into a script

Work at home

Theme: A Social Issue

Write a short story on an issue that you are passionate about

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The CurriculumSession 2: Finding a Story to Tell 2

Students to come to the session having written a short story (to be translated into a script)

Instructor shows/explains to students what is a story board (using an example from a popular Singaporean Sit-com)

Students work to translate their stories into storyboards (text, sounds, pictures)

Discuss the difficulties faced

With this knowledge, how would you select an appropriate story

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The CurriculumSession 3: Pre-Production 1

Students to form groups of 5. Each member to take on a role such as director, producer, sound tech, lighting tech, cast coordinator

Discuss in groups (with guidance):

Script: Breakdown and organize the written script into different components for preparation

Location Scouting: Finding locations / negotiating for locations

Casting: Find talents / conduct an audition

Schedule: Plan overall timeline / shoot schedule

Budgeting: Plan and manage budget

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The CurriculumSession 4: Pre-Production 2

Understanding the rules of !lm making

What can and cannot be done

Using various equipment

Digital Camera

Video Camera

Lights

How to position cameras/lights for maximum effect

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The CurriculumSession 5: Sounds for Film

Hands-on training on !lming & editing

Voice

Background noise

Sound effects

What groups should consider when shooting their !lms

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The Curriculum

Guided Practicum (in groups)

Groups to discuss and work on their script / story board

Groups to loan out video cameras for 1-2 weeks to shoot their !lms

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The CurriculumSession 6: How to use Video Editing Software

All groups to have completed shooting by this stage

4 hour training session on how to edit video

Groups to practice using their own footage

Groups to arrange to use computers for editing outside of training hours (if required)

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The Curriculum

Session 7: Critique

Exporting of !nal product to disc

Round table re$ection / critique

Groups prepare & rehearse their 1 minute presentation

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The FinaleScreening of Student Films

Each group was required to introduce their !lm

All teachers and parents of students were invited to attend

Speech by Sinema Director and School Principal

Students given certi!cates of completion and souvenirs (tote bags)

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I’m not hungry

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Phases

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OutcomesStudent Participants

Pride and con!dence

Serve as role models/student facilitators

Better communication/relationship with parents

Parents

Pride and surprise in the ability of their children

Renewed support and engagement in school activities

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OutcomesTeacher Facilitators

Mentors and ambassadors in the use of technology among colleagues

Inspired to explore yet new ways to engage their students

Other Teachers

Surprised at what their students are capable of

More willing to explore and learn how to use technology in their classrooms

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Myths

You need to be an expert

You need lots of expensive hardware

You need plenty of time

Its not worth the trouble

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Using Storyboards & Movie Making to Develop Writing Skills

St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School

Paviter SinghMasters Candidate, HGSEpaviter@gmail.com

http://web.mac.com/paviter/Sinema/Home.html

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