Technology for Collaborative Production
This is an in-class group exercise. Each group must devise a method to collaboratively produce a video within a group. I do this small in-class exercise before they begin working on major group projects to get them to collaborate more efficiently and effectively within their groups.
Through this exercise, students also attempt to meet the technology goals as indicated in the ISTE Standard●S 7 (see Figures 1 & 2 below).
Why I Do This
While it is easy to collaborate by using real-time collaborative editing (RTCE) tools such as Google Slides and Prezi, students revert back to an old way of collaboration when it comes to using standalone desktop applications such as video editors and SMART Notebook.
As shown in the pictures below (Figure 3), all the group members gather around one computer. They discuss together, but one person mainly operates the computer.
This approach is not time-efficient as it does not utilize individual resources and skills efficiently. For example, do we really need three people trying to decide which video transition to use? Do we really need four people figuring out where to place the text on the screen? Many small tasks do not require all group members. Human resources should be better allocated by delegating tasks to smaller groups or individuals (see Figure 4).
Criteria for Collaboration Method |
In addition to all the functionalities required for Collaborative Research, each group must also accomplish the following tasks:
① Collaborative Script WritingIn their designing process, they must be able to develop a story and write and discuss a script collaboratively within their group by using RTCE (real-time collaborative editing) tools.
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② Collaborative Storyboard MakingIn their designing process, they also must be able to design and discuss their storyboard (design ideas and scene sketches) online by using RTCE tools.
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③ Shared StorageBefore they begin editing a video, they need to gather all the necessary digital resources (video clips, pictures, audio clips). They must be able to upload those digital resources to the shared online space and annotate them.
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④ Collaborative Video EditingVideo editing should also be done collaboratively. Note: How well they can collaborate depends on their technology environments (internet environment, editing tools, access to RTCE tools).
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Evaluation & Grading Rubric
Two students in each group hook their laptops to the two main monitors in the classroom (Figure 10) and demonstrate their collaborative search & curate process, which is then graded on how efficiently they carry out each of the 6 criteria listed above. See the attached rubric for grading details (Figure 11).
Follow Up
Right after the group presentations are done, I share one tool - i.e., Frame.io (Figure 12) - if it has not been shared by the groups. Click the image to enlarge it.