--- Forwarded Message from Larry Davies <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 15:47:10 +0900
>Subject: Re: #6928.5m Using digital video with computers (!)
>From: Larry Davies <[log in to unmask]>
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum    <[log in to unmask]>
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>

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Hi Kay and others,

This year my first year university students (2 separate classes of 21 
non-English majors meeting once a week for 90 minutes in a 
"Communication" class) completed two video projects. Here are brief 
descriptions of both.

1. "Not a CD" Project - students were asked to make a 30-second 
commercial selling a CD/ROM disc as an item that is used in a different 
way. This is the third time I have tried this project. Among some ideas 
they came up with, the CD/ROM was sold as: a bullet proof vest, a knife 
for cutting fruit, a life preserver for stuffed animals and a body 
building alternative to weights. All in all, they had a lot of fun 
making the movies. They have to write scripts and storyboard the 
project. I teach them just a little about iMovie. I'll continue to 
refine this. They produce a lot of interesting and creative things. 
Next year, I'll ask the next group to make a showcase website. 
Unfortunately, I haven't done that yet.

2. "How to..." Project - we are making an informal self-access center 
here. We want students to come and study English and use English in 
this informal space, we call it the Connections Cafe (and have a 
website, too, at http://funky.fun.ac.jp/c-cafe). Students were asked to 
make 3 minute videos for future students, showing them different ways 
in which this informal space might be used for English language study. 
Again, they had to storyboard, write a script, make the video, and give 
a 10-minute presentation about the process. This project took six weeks 
to complete. Students are now constructing a website through 
Connections Cafe online where the videos will be accessible. Look for 
them sometime early next January, 2003.

All in all, I'm very excited about the productive potential of projects 
like these, mainly because everything that is produced is really owned 
by the students that make them.

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Whatever hugs do for people, I'm sure telehugs can't. - Hubert Dreyfus
Larry Davies, Associate Professor, Future University - Hakodate ^^
116-2 Kameda Nakano-cho, Hakodate, Japan 041-8655  ;___;
TEL (W) +81-(0)138-34-6526 - http://www.fun.ac.jp/~davies/index.html o-0
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