Learning with VideoStudio

Overview
What is a hero? Heroes are defined in part as "someone who does something dangerous to help someone else" or "someone making a positive difference and improving lives". Who are the heroes in people’s lives? Some heroes are known worldwide, or just within a country or region of a country. Other heroes are not as famous, and are defined by a local community, an organization in that community, a family or an individual within a family. Regardless of the notoriety of a hero, there are common values and characteristics common to them all. Having students reflect upon the hero or heroes in their lives helps them gain an additional perspective on the world around them.

Description
The teacher will conduct one or more lessons on various heroes throughout time, and help students define their common values and characteristics. The students will then be divided into teams of two. Each team will select a person that they feel is a hero to both team members. They will research information about that person using print, multimedia, Internet, and even in-person interviews if possible. The research materials to be collected will include text-based information, graphic and photographic resources as well a downloaded video clips or clips from an interview with that person. The teams will then synthesize that information into a storyboard and script leading to the production of a 2 minute video report on their hero. The teams will use Ulead’s VideoStudio software to capture, edit, and author their video report. When finished they will present their report to the class, and answer any questions.

Grade Level(s): 6th - 8th

Curriculum Areas: Language Arts, History

Goals and Objectives

• Goal 1 - Students will utilize a variety of informational texts in their research.
  • Objective 1 - Students will utilize a variety of reading skills and strategies, to collect information for their project as well as use various strategies to summarize and synthesize that information into a report on the hero they selected.
    
• Goal 2 - Students will write a script for their video presentation.
  • Objective 2 - Student will use a variety of writing skills, including using sensory words and figurative language, to draft and revise the script for their video production.
    
• Goal 3 - Students will better understand the common values and characteristics of different heroes in history.
  • Objective 3 - As the result of their own team’s research, and watching the video report from other teams, students will better understand the values, and common characteristics of various heroes, and the impact of their actions.