Colon Week 8 Journal Post

For my final project, I was going to write about the benefits (and potential drawbacks) of showing films and documentaries in class, using digital media to present new information. As a Social Studies teacher, I often use videos that depict an event so that students can have a better understanding. However, I have since decided to write about the benefits of students making movies of their own. Today, students have easier access to video cameras and video-editing programs than ever before. Filmmaking is an art form that allows kids to demonstrate knowledge and to express themselves creatively. I enjoy filmmaking myself, and I had video projects of my own when I was in high school. Now I'm curious as to how this form of digital literacy can benefit students. 

Annotated Bibliography

Morgan, H. (2013). Creating Videos Can Lead To Many Academic Benefits. Technology in the  Classroom. Retrieved from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00094056.2013.757534scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab 

Utilizing filmmaking technology and skills in the classroom can yield many positive benefits. The number of students who watch videos online increases annually as more of them get invested in internet spaces such as YouTube. Simultaneously, more adolescents are creating film content of their own as a form of self-expression and communication. By utilizing filmmaking within a class setting, it has the potential to increase student engagement. 

Harness, H., Drossman, H. (2011). The environmental education through filmmaking project. Retrieved From: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13504622.2011.618626 

A case study was conducted in a US public school where a group of students were tasked with creating a film project on environment awareness. This test group had a greater environmental consciousness of how their actions impact the environment than students who did not complete the film project. By creating a video on a subject, students became more engaged and more aware of their subject. 

Dando, C., Chadwick, J. J. (2014). Enhancing Geographic Learning and Literacy Through Filmmaking. Retrieved From: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&context=geoggeolfacpub

Many students struggle with learning and understanding abstract ideas such as geography, history, and how they intersect with people's everyday lives. There is a disconnect between such abstract ideas that are studied in school and how they apply to day to day life. Film can be a powerful tool useful for researching geography and culture. Students can use this digital literacy to capture geography, history, and culture in a way that feels real to them. This can turn the abstract into the concrete, helping them to gain a greater understanding. 

Martin, K., Davis, L. and Sandretto, S. (2019). Students as storytellers: mobile-filmmaking to improve student engagement in school science. Journal of Science Communication. Retrieved From: https://jcom.sissa.it/archive/18/05/JCOM_1805_2019_A04?utm_source=miragenews&utm_medium=miragenews&utm_campaign=news 

Students engagement in scientific fields has been on the decline internationally. Engagement is a predictor of whether kids will grow up to be scientists in the future. One strategy for building student interest is by having them research a topic of their own interest to make a film about. 

Chen, C. & Li, K. (2011). Action! — Boost students’ English learning motivation with filmmaking project. Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange. Retrieved From: https://aquila.usm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&context=jetde 

The English language is a commonly taught subject in Taiwanese universities. Students often think of English as simply a language to study, and forget about the real life applications that come with it. The students in Taiwan are often unengaged and may sleep in class, find ways to distract themselves, or merely wait for the bell to ring. Through the use of filmmaking situations where English is useful, student motivation to learn increased.