Video editing is a powerful way to demonstrate an idea or an interpretation of a concept. But is the time needed to learn the tool worth it? I do not know. In the last couple of years I have attempted to use video editing in two different lessons. Both ended up taking significantly more time then expected and had mediocre results. The students were unable to make the kinds of content decisions needed to clearly define their ideas. They were not ready to demonstrate what they had learned in an creative way. Perhaps after several times using the video medium they may start to become efficient and competent with the tool. But in an my elementary classrooms with so little time and to much content, spending the time to get the students competent with this tool would limit the amount of content that can be covered.
If we can teach our students to think differently, to envision, plan, and encode their thoughts in ways that are not multiple choice then the time needed to teach video editing will be worth it. I believe there needs to be a lot of development of how students use information to make decisions before video editing can be a tool that is beneficial to the classroom. It is a great goal, and it may work in schools with the right culture. Unfortunately my school community is not ready, we can not create.
Your comments are very thought provoking, Kevin, especially give than you are tech-saavy and yet are finding it hard to integrate tools like video technology into elementary school curriculum. I do think at the younger ages, students do not have the perspective to be able to step back to see the bigger picture so have more difficulty 'seeing the bigger picture' when trying to create something as multi-faceted as a digital video. Perhaps teens have the advantage of more years of life experience and digital skills to be able to incorporate this new tool into their learning process. From a non-teacher's perspective, it still seems like it is most important that young students first develop a good foundation of basic knowledge and thinking skills if we hope that they can develop more analytical and creative thinking as young adults.
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