October is National Principals Month, and we’re recognizing principals everywhere for their dedication and commitment to students, teachers and the communities they serve.
Check out the latest spotlight on Randy Martino, Principal at Dartmouth Middle School in San Jose, California. With more than 20 years in education, he’s seen how learning tools have changed over time. Here’s what he had to say about using video in today’s classrooms.
What is your role at Dartmouth Middle School?
My name is Randy Martino. I am the Principal of Dartmouth Middle School and I’ve been in education for 26 years.
How does WeVideo tie into the 21st-century skills being taught at your school?
WeVideo product ties into our 21st century initiative by making students autonomous with their learning. They’re able to project their critical thinking skills, access information quickly and easily, work collaboratively with peers, and showcase their stories making things more fluid. We have reduced the use of paper, the ability for teachers to correct, analyze information, and provide feedback online thus transforming learning. It’s fantastic!
Why do you consider video and digital storytelling an important tool in schools today?
I believe digital tools are truly important in our schools today because this is the culture that our students are growing up in. The ease of use and the content in which they view soundbites and snippets is how they think, act and talk. They’re able to utilize technology using digitized expressions to give/receive critiques and collaboration becomes a very important method to incorporate a level of thinking and showcase it to students, future students, and teachers.
What is personally the most rewarding about seeing WeVideo being successfully implemented in your school?
The most personally rewarding part of WeVideo is seeing the students working in groups who typically would not pair together. We have a very economically diverse student body, and some academically not on the same page, but seeing students collaboratively creating stories and videos together to utilize skills that each other has with the heart and the feeling is amazing to see. The connections they make improve the quality of relationships going forward and learning.
How was the process of rolling out WeVideo at your school?
The process started by a few teachers who are real innovators. One is a language arts/social studies teacher and her teaching partner is a math/science teacher. They found out about the product three years ago and they have been utilizIng it for their units on storytelling and tying it into social studies, science and mathematics. It really caught on with our other teachers in other content levels and when students transition to upper-grade levels, they showcase to their teachers that this is something they use and much more simplified than what products the other teachers have been using. It gives them an authentic audience in which to do that.
Watch more from Dartmouth Middle School and WeVideo on YouTube.