Education Classroom Library

Meeting challenges, Meeting Standards

December 2002
By Drs. Jane & Michael Madden
Francis Marion University

The other day, a classroom teacher related how amazed she was at the transformation in her students when she decided to get adventurous and use a digital camera in her classroom. She equated it with the power of a magic wand to settle her students and focus their attention. In fact, her students even assisted her with using some of the camera's additional features, such as capturing short video segments that she hadn't yet considered.

Another teacher related similar experiences with her students at the grade four level. For both, incorporating technology into the classroom didn't increase problems; in fact, it reduced them and helped them engage students they hadn't been able to reach. These stories aren't uncommon. It's been our experience that, once teachers try using tools like digital cameras and video recorders, they quickly see the benefits with students at all age levels. The power that these tools have to enable a wide range of learners is a powerful incentive for teachers to get involved.

The National Educational Technology Standards for students and for teachers reflect sets of skills and understandings expected from preschool through to the end of the twelfth grade. For example, in the NETS profiles for technology-literate students, children in grades pre-K to 2 are expected to use digital resources such as digital cameras and drawing tools and to create multimedia products with support. The focus is on communicating and illustrating thoughts and ideas. In grades 3-5, students are expected to go further with tools such as multimedia authoring, digital cameras and video to engage in self-directed learning, publishing, writing, and communicating, among other items. According to ISTE, "at the state level, 43 of the 51 states have adopted, adapted, aligned with, or otherwise referenced at least one set of standards in their state technology plans, certification, licensure, curriculum plans, assessment plans, or other official state documents (http://cnets.iste.org/).

The technology standards are not a stand-alone element separate from curriculum. Instead, they are either woven right into the curriculum standards or they are noted and elaborated on in the discussion of curriculum standards, as in the case of Texas. Even at the kindergarten to grade two level in Texas, teachers will find that students are expected to communicate and publish ideas in a variety of media. With the emphasis on adhering to established curriculum and meeting the challenges offered by the No Child Left Behind legislation, teachers need tools, such as eZediaMX, that allow them to address curriculum and technology standards in an appropriate manner while at the same time using a technology tool that engages a broader audience of students.

Some of the tools that are a part of the eZediaMX software can save teachers and students a lot of time and leave them focusing on the content. One example of that is the non-destructive digital video editing. We teach digital video editing and it is relatively simple if people don't use complicated editing packages. However, if students can use one short piece of video, such as they might capture with the Sony Mavica cameras that are so prolific in the schools, within eZediaMX without first having to go to a video editing program, they will be saving time and gaining flexibility.

Normally, we take a piece of video and separate it into short segments that we will use in different parts of our project. For example, if we have students creating video segments of a process and they want to talk about each step in a short process, they will have the choice of (1) either having to stop and start the video as they present, trying to remember where they are supposed to stop; (2) taking the time to edit the video into multiple short pieces and keep them in order; or, (3) simply using the non-destructive video editing feature in eZediaMX, keep the video clip in one piece and use the power of the software to bring up the video segment that they want, when they want it, without having to leave the eZedia environment and without having to tamper with the original video clip.

eZediaMX also has some other features that allow you to apply very cool effects to video with only a couple of clicks. One of those is masking videos which allow you to change the traditional rectangular shape of a video clip into a flower, a state map, whatever you like. We introduced masking of videos to nine-year old girl scouts when we first introduced them to multimedia authoring. It was right up their alley! They masked every video clip they could get their hands on. Because eZedia comes with a number of graphics that can be used for masking video, we didn't even have to create them ourselves. If you're using Mac computers, you are a step up, in that it makes capturing and editing video a very simple process. You can also take advantage of the iMovie plug-ins eZedia has to apply all sorts of amazing effects to video, beyond the masking capabilities in eZediaMX, with ease.

Students are going to be communicating their learning and their thoughts with new tools. Give them the chance now to develop the additional literacy skills demanded in a digital economy. You may be surprised at the shift in attitude and effort.

About the Authors
Dr. Jane Madden is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Francis Marion University and is the Director of the Grants Development Program on campus. Dr. Michael Madden is a Professor in the School of Education. No remuneration was received for the writing of this article.

http://www.jmadden.info/