The World Is Watching!

Last week was a busy digital content acquisition week for for me. Eh, I shot a lot of video. I had eleven year old students in preproduction researching and writing copy for a late-November webcast while others were directing and producing the on-camera talent for the taping of the next Good Morning Eastview. In addition, 5th grade students helped shoot a school musical, but not after we produced and edited a webcast with teachers that excel at Eastview.
I am a regular education classroom teacher, and I’m trying to engage the students. By using technology and media we have the opportunity to have our produced content actually meet an interactive audience.
So off we went. This particular class has “bought into” their education more than others and I wondered why. I wondered, what makes this class more responsive learners? Even though I have integrated a lot of media and technology over the years, this is the first year I have made our productions interactive from the internet. Our projects are shown on our local school network, broadcast on cable television and the Eastview website. This school year we have heard from complete strangers about our productions. The students take the comments very seriously and actively participate to brainstorm solutions or upgrades. They are aware that the world is watching. Besides performing, students are working as a team, setting goals and using technology. As for me, I have come to the understanding that this is exactly what this class needs. We all need and thrive from personal responses to our efforts, academic and otherwise. These are opportunities that matter to the students. Digital content creation is beneficial for them, but for me, I need to find some balance and a nap.