May the WeVideo Force be with You

     I don't feel like I could start this correctly without paying homage to a certain franchise that I dearly love, so, "May the force be with you as I share this story."  

     
     My family and I recently had the experience of being able to travel to Disney World. It is there that they pride themselves about being story tellers. In fact, in the Spaceship Earth ride, it is even a part of the script as you travel through the passage of time. So I couldn't help but think that I want my kids to be storytellers as well. And, in the ride Spaceship Earth, I was reminded that stories can be told in many different ways.

     
     First things first, a special shout out to the technology department for making WeVideo and all of its components accessible for all students. Being able to share a story in the form of a video is such an intrepid experience for kids. Being able to teach the kids about what goes into the making of a well-informed, well edited piece is so full of risk and reward. The experience as a whole for 2nd grade all the way to 5th is amazing!

    
     So what is it that I am speaking about? How do you have students share those stories? By speaking about the past and present, as did our 2nd graders at Grimsrud Elementary using Green screens, color keying and wonderful, rich researched writing example. Or, by creating innovative and persuasive commercials for the Holiday Sale at Highland Acres Elementary, while maintaining the key elements of a persuasive work in under a minute. Or, by creating a weather topic forecast in third grade at Roosevelt, while playing the element of weather in the background while sharing about what it is and how it works.

   
      Being a story teller is so much more than visiting a magical place on earth. It is being able to share experiences that bond us together. Its sharing what we know, and connecting it to elements that are magical, and full of life. It's risk taking, it's rewarding, and it can be done in WeVideo.

     
     It's not just about what I think, take it from Shannon Chaussee at Highland Acres, WeVideo, "... Gives different groups different skills/concepts to research and learn, then letting them make a video – then posting these vids on google classroom for the kids to watch for homework (a sort of “flipped” student-led classroom)." There are so many opportunities to share, grow and learn with WeVideo!

    Happy storytelling, and teaching about all of its concepts. Perhaps you can share your perspective on Tuesday!

Twitter Chat:

Q1: How is the use of video an effective tool for students to share what they have learned?

Q2: How have, or could you use WeVideo in your teaching practices?

Q3:  What outcomes might you expect students to present using video story telling?

Q4: What kind of space, time and requirements are needed to make it work for T's and S's?