2+New+or+Existing

2. Is this a new or existing project or initiative?

"Film is not the language of the 21st Century. It is the language of the 20th Century and schools are just catching up." - Matthew Needleman (ADD TITLE FOR MATT HERE)

Technologically-savvy students are creating digital media at home and posting on sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube. While the creation of video content is not new to these students, creating digital media aligned in curricular areas is new at the district level. A select few classrooms, mainly elective classes like journalism and broadcasting, have dabbled in digital media through the use of Adobe Photo Shop and more sophisticated Final Cut Pro. Meanwhile, user-friendly and readily-available programs like Photo Story and Windows Movie Maker are largely unused by classroom teachers because of the lack of availability of digital photo cameras and digital camcorders. The addition of this technology will supplement existing components and allow teachers to more easily utilize the resources currently available.

Teachers need to continually evaluate and reflect on professional practice to make informed decisions regarding the use of technology in support of student learning. The integration of this new technology will allow teachers to develop to use technology resources to engage in ongoing professional development and lifelong learning. Teachers will research and collaborate with colleagues to develop their own innovative projects within specific content areas that academically stimulate all students. District teachers will explore multi-media creation, videoconferencing, and podcasting to supplement the curriculum. No longer limited due to inadequate access to digital cameras and video camcorders, this grant will facilitate the expansion of projects by coordinating hardware, software, training, and support to meet the needs of students. Within our district's active Professional Learning Communities, innovative projects will be shared and implemented across the curriculum.

//ORIGINAL MATERIAL// While the creation of video content is not new to many students, creating digital media aligned in curricular areas is new to our district. A few classrooms have dabbled in digital media through the use of PhotoStory and MovieMaker; meanwhile, our students are creating digital media and posting on sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube. Taking the skills used in digital social networking and applying these same skills to curricular areas is our project.

District teachers have explored video creation, videoconferencing, and podcasting in their classrooms but are limited due to inadequate funding to purchase the needed equipment. This proposal would facilitate production expansion by coordinating the hardware, software, training, and support to enhance success for teachers and students. Furthermore, specific areas within each curricular area will be identified so as to focus the projects on targeted content which make it easier for teachers and students to find relevancy.

Taking the skills used in digital social networking and applying these same skills to curricular areas is our project.

//Our district has taught several classes on MovieMaker, PhotoStory, Podcasting, Digital Storytelling, Videoconferencing, and many other visual literacy and collaborative technologies in the past. District teachers are exploring video creation, videoconferencing, and podcasting in their classrooms but are limited due to inadequate funding to purchase the needed equipment. This proposal would facilitate production expansion by coordinating the hardware, software, training, and support, enhancing success for teachers and students. Furthermore, specific areas within each curricular area will be identified so as to focus the projects on targeted content which make it easier for teachers and students to find relevancy.//

=//This is where we need to get some input from some teachers. If they could describe some of classroom applications - poetry, drama, music concerts, world language classes....//=