Contributed by:
Jennifer Eggert | Instructional Technology Coach | Bloomingdale, IL, USA
Student-produced morning announcements
- Grade:
- K-12
- Subject:
- Any/All
Main objective
Each student will be able to participate in the Morning Video Announcement production process as a listener, viewer, guest, writer, editor, producer, or news anchor.
Standards
Common Core Speaking & Listening Anchor Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.2: Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.5: Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.6: Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.
International Society for Technology & Education Student Standards
- 1d: Students understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.
- 2b: Students engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.
- 3c: Students curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions.
- 6b: Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.
- 6c: Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.
- 6d: Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.
- 7c: Students contribute constructively to project teams, assuming various roles and responsibilities to work effectively toward a common goal.
Student Produced Video Announcements = TRANSFORMATIVE
Video Announcements scripted, filmed, and published by students can totally change school culture and build a positive school community. In addition to sharing the daily or weekly school “happenings,” fun and academic related segments can be included to involve students and teachers while fostering shared learning and commitment to school.
Start every morning or week with something that gets the students and teachers excited about school! Of course, the video announcements spread information and news throughout the building, but they also provide an opportunity for students to write, produce, listen and learn. As powerful and fun features are created and viewed by the school community, a sense of unity is generated and school values and energy spread like wildfire! A powerful ritual and tradition can be both born and celebrated!
Suggested Steps
Logistics
When can students script, film & produce?
- Recess/lunch
- As part of an ELA block- could this be part of an independent, or even guided reading task?
- Social studies instruction- tie into civics
- Elective course (broadcasting, writing, design, etc)
- Create a club
- Before or after school
What adults could/should be involved?
- Club sponsor
- Parent volunteers
- Teachers
- Paraprofessionals
- Administrators
How will students participating be selected?
- Selection process for students
- Choose the oldest grade in the building & create a rotation where students are randomly chosen
- Choose from a pre-existing club
- Create an application for students
- Think about sorting the jobs into different groups/roles
- Students’ positions in a morning announcement team
- Script writers
- Filming crew
- Editing and publishing bunch
Materials
Digital Template Scripts/Outlines
Optional
- Morning Announcement Feature ideas
- Well lit room
- Camera for recording
- Devices for editing
- Props
- Fake or real microphones
- Green screen
- Timer
- Teleprompter site
- WeVideo Academy tutorial videos
Differentiation
Elementary/Middle School Students
- Create sentence stems/detailed script template so that only chunks need to be filled in
- Keep features short and simple!
- Add subtitles for ELL learners, add audio text recordings to accompany plain text for younger students
- Visuals are key- keep em’ coming
Middle School/High School Students
- Challenge students to change the script structure each week
- Allow students to create a survey
- Include advanced writing, filming, and editing opportunities for students
Tips & Tricks
- Try starting with once a week, instead of daily programming.
- Evaluate the pros and cons of pre-recorded or live video announcements and determine what is best.
- Make the announcements as STUDENT LED as possible (Can they write the script? Can students generate the ideas? Is it possible for students to help with the filming? What about students editing the video?).
- Get information from the school at the beginning of the month to reference (birthdays, events calendar, etc.).
- Get the teachers involved in “Fun Features” or in any part of the announcements.
- Be sure to use licensed images, videos, and music! WeVideo’s Essential Library includes 650,000+ professional, and licensed video, images, and audio, that you can use for free in your announcements.
- Protect privacy by only referring to students by first name.
- Think about school culture- what segments would bring staff and students together with positivity, humor, and information?
- Consider involving community members (interviews, special features, etc).
- Keep your audience in mind when scripting, editing for time, clarity, etc.
- Create a special segment for different groups of students to get involved (each grade level, elective class, etc.)
- If printing scripts, pre-highlight lines for students. Allow them to have digital access to their “lines” to practice.
- Think about diversity and sensitivity when scripting- Can segments be done in more than one language? Can they shed light on Hannukkah around Christmas time?
- Create a playlist of videos easily accessible by students/teachers/community (think Youtube- set videos as “Unlisted” for privacy purposes).
After the airing
- Encourage students to survey staff and students for desired features, structure, etc. Input is valued!
- Gather feedback from administrators, teachers, students, and community members.
- Reflect: What can be improved? What should be kept? Is learning and community building being maximized?
- Allow students to reach out to experts for advice (video producers, news anchors, community members, etc).
