Video: An Accessible Technology for All Language Classrooms Michael Bush Brigham Young University

Who am I?

The Challenge of Language Learning Learning language is perhaps the most complex of all human undertakings, characterized by a seemingly bizarre paradox. While the attainment of perfection is natural for a child, it is virtually impossible for an adult. Learning language is perhaps the most complex of all human undertakings, characterized by a seemingly bizarre paradox. While the attainment of perfection is natural for a child, it is virtually impossible for an adult.

Technology Promise “I believe that the motion picture is destined to revolutionize our educational system and that in a few years it will supplant largely, if not entirely, the use of textbooks.” (Thomas Edison, 1922)

A “Story-Telling” Medium People think in terms of stories. They understand the world in terms of stories that they have already understood. New events or problems are understood by reference to old previously understood stories and explained to others by the use of stories. (Roger Schank, Tell me a Story)

The Role of Technology Use technology’s bandwidth to provide access for students to people, sights, and sounds of the target culture Use stories to deal not only with the affective component in learning, but the cognitive as well

The Battle of the Technologies The processing of sounds and images determined the survival of humankind for thousands of years before the invention of writing. What primary technology do our teachers use today? Textbook! Textbook!

Using technology? Not the solution, Not the solution, But could be part of a solution. Making technology a tool… Technology-enhanced language learning Technology-enhanced language learning Video Video Addressing the Challenge?

Delivering the Video On VCR? Online? On DVD? Yes!

Online versus DVD? Actually, we need both! Each has its strengths: High fidelity versus accessibility… High fidelity versus accessibility…

Sources of Video Commercial video Roll your own…

Commercial Video Textbook publishers Business model! Business model! Standalone products Integration! Integration! Commercial movies… Copyright issues! Copyright issues!

Copyright Issues Purchase the rights… Not cheap! Not cheap! Electronic Film Review (EFR) Video Asset Description (VAD) Video Asset Description (VAD) Customized Video Playback (CVP) Customized Video Playback (CVP)

Rolling your own… Video production is affordable Producing bad stuff is easy Producing bad stuff is easy Producing good stuff is harder but doable Producing good stuff is harder but doable Students can be involved. Whatever you do will require a plan!

Producing Video Study abroad students Bonnie video Summer Institute for high school teachers Student mentoring projects Tanzania Tanzania Romania Romania Paris Paris Federal grants

Doing Passably Good Stuff Tell stories Find real stories Find real stories or at least Suspend disbelief Suspend disbelief Aspire to decent production values

Plan! Plan! Plan! Determine treatment. Develop scope and sequence (What? And in what order?). Produce scripts and/or semi-scripts. Write lesson plans. Lay out production (in-country) plan.

Production Values Organize Constitute a “team” for the shoot Constitute a “team” for the shoot Plan the shoot Plan the shoot Attend to video quality Use a tripod whenever possible Use a tripod whenever possible Avoid fast pans and zooms Avoid fast pans and zooms Get plenty of B-roll Get plenty of B-roll Attend to audio quality Use microphones Use microphones Monitor recording Monitor recording

At the Low End

At the Higher End

Using Video in the Classroom Get students ready to view the video “Activate the schema” “Activate the schema” Elicit background knowledge Elicit background knowledge View the video recursively with specified tasks Move from global to specific comprehension Move from global to specific comprehension Check comprehension Help students relate & apply to their own lives

Project Demonstrations