iMovie/Documentary Reflection

Using a video camera to make a documentary is a wonderful teaching tool. First of all, it really allows students to demonstrate their creativity. Almost everyone has though about making their own movie or at the very least, upon viewing a movie, said themselves, "Oh, if I were the director I would've done that." This is simply a fun and creative assignment for students.

Secondly, unlike the other projects we've done, group work was a necessity on this one. Making a documentary/movie allows students to work cooperatively. Even the shy student gets involved because perhaps they do the editing on iMovie or operate the camera.

Thirdly, making a documentary can allow students to become "experts" in a particular topic, as making a documentary requires research. Also, has a social studies teacher, students can recreate history and show an understanding of events and turning points by filming a movie. In effect making a movie can make history come alive for my students.

The pitfalls...This can be a very time consuming assignment and thanks to the high stakes testing and standards movement, it would be very hard to allot some much class time to students to do this sort of project. They would have to do it on their own. And not every student has access to a video camera. My school doesn't have enought to lend out to students and they don't lend them out to students.