Project Ed
Start by using the videos as inspiration for class openers or real-world recaps of yesterday's lessons. Get students familiar with the site by letting them experience the videos as viewers. Gradually pull a few lessons from the site to integrate into your instruction by letting students learn how to use the videos to further understand or apply skills or topics. Next, let the students browse the galleries of videos to find a video that really impressed them. Students can use that video as inspiration to write a script for their own project, either individually or in small groups. From there, select some scripts to be acted out for the class. Finally, after students have been trained as writers, producers, and actors, assign some contests to help them showcase their talent and knowledge on camera. It can be a great way to integrate balanced literacy across content areas!
Continue readingFinally -- a free forum for class innovation through provocative, incentive-filled contests! Teacher-student filmmaker groups can use the site's clever, crafty content prompts to showcase their talent, knowledge, and real-world problem-solving skills. Content areas range from middle school science to grammar and vocabulary, and all prompts focus on making ordinary skills relevant. Students can earn badges for their achievements in creating, viewing, and sharing videos within the site's online community. The site provides easy access to current contest prompts, winning contest videos, Word of the Day videos, and educator resources like Common Core-aligned lesson plans. The site can also be used as a database for extended learning videos, both in and outside the classroom.
Project Ed lends itself to the creation of profound and fun educational videos for and by tweens. Authentic learning is at its peak when classrooms use the site as a platform for content creation, not just consumption. Think of the relationships and learning established when students and teachers use these kinds of tools as a vehicle and host for original educational videos. Don't worry if your classes are a little camera shy; the site provides Common Core-aligned lessons and projects that utilize pre-published videos that can help move lessons forward. Of course, at the very least, teachers can incorporate these pre-made videos into their instruction to help solidify students' skills. The platform is still growing in terms of the variety of content available. Some of the smaller content galleries have multiple videos for the same topic; nevertheless, these can be a good starting point for quick, basic reading and writing instruction, or for science material related to genetics and physical science.
Overall Rating
Community Rating
Pittsburgh, United States
Explore Our Favorite Tools
-
Best Photography and Photo-Editing Apps for Students
Zoom in on the art and science of photography.Grades 1–12ArtsCreativity -
Learning Games That Put Play First
Open-ended and creative games that unlock the learning potential of play.Grades Pre-K–12Creativity, Character & SEL, Critical Thinking
