BLC18

Creating videos and motion graphics nudges both students and teachers to blend a host of proficiencies. It involves visual design, just as it requires language skills of narration and storytelling. It supports technological skills in manipulating online media, and it reinforces the importance of publishing and sharing student creations. Kids teaching kids is the purest model of learning, and they become the educators of their peers.

Video production allows students to stitch together a narrative and storyboard each moment in the process that combines logical reasoning, cause-and-effect, and content mastery. They also must employ their graphicacy skills to fashion compelling visual displays. These quick-cut movies and short animations combine icons and text to communicate a message. Explainer videos are perfect for the classroom. They blend voice, image, and language into captivating presentations for students to learn. Content created using app editors or motion graphics provides a way for the brain to receive information through both the eyes and ears. Learning tools that can tap into both modalities have greater effectiveness in fostering understanding by adding layers of meaning. Teacher-produced videos can be terrific learning tools, but student-created videos are even richer. Creating multimedia videos and animations combine voice, images, and kinetic typography to internalize authentic understanding.

How does incorporating the use of visual media such as video, motion graphics, and animation promote student voice as activists? In what way does the design of multimedia enable them to develop a deeper understanding of the way media messages are constructed for maximum impact? How does video production empower students to teach others?

Using videos and animations encourage four key proficiencies in the visual design process including: Symbol and visual metaphor - Students choose images to pair with their explanations to foster an understanding of figurative meaning. Narration - They must unite each visual frame with a seamless spoken narrative to relate the core information of the story. Script - Students must select crisp words to highlight vocabulary while avoiding large irrelevant language. Design - As filmmakers, they must combine colors, music, transitions, and layout to clearly convey the content.