Finding a Voice - Using low-cost digital video to help children articulate a sense of self
Planning - defining the research Deciding on the area of research and defining the research problem or issue.
Why are we doing this?
Digital Video has become cheap and accessible in Primary schools and is therefore being considered as a viable option
Teachers are unaware of the potential of DV as a creative tool
Teachers are frightened of high-end DV equipment and editing software
Schools cannot afford multiple sets of high-end resources
The researchers are convinced of the potential of DV as a creative toll and would like to put some academic rigour behind their gut feelings
Creativity is the latest 'buzz-word' from Government and suddenly it's an okay thing to do
We know that there are some children whose learning styles and/or personality make it difficult for them to communicate effectively through 'conventional' means such as writing
What do we want to find out?
Is digital video an effective way for children to 'find a voice'?
Are there some children who respond to this medium more than others?
Which kinds of learners respond best to this medium?
Kinesthetic
Is low-cost, child-friendly equipment and editing software 'good enough' for classroom use?
What do we need to do?
Select a school
Contact the school and explain the project
Meet key staff
Plan project
Talk around generic issues
etc.
Reviewing the field Reviewing other relevant work in the field - situating yourself, mapping the territory
What's been done already?
Key texts
See bibliography elsewhere
Relevant bodies
Becta
Film Education Council
etc
Methodologies Deciding on the most appropriate research methodologies, methods or combination of methods
Experimental/Action research
This research involved several participant groups...
The children as film-makers reflected on what they did and also made pre/post activity records of their learning
Getting the children's perspective on their own approach to learning in four key areas
Reading
Writing
Making 2/3D
Film-making
Choice of four 'places'
I can do this and I try
I can do this but I don't try
I can't do this but I try
I can't do this and I don't try
The staff in the school
The researchers
Parents
Data collection Collecting, acquiring, creating research material, information and data
interviews
with participating children
with parents
with involved adults
Head teacher
Class Teacher
Teaching Assistant
questionnaires
Children's matrix
case studies
The elective mute
The most spectacular evidence of a child 'finding a voice' was quite literal: an elective mute spoke ceaselessly when she was behind the camera lens but in no other circumstances
participant-observation
Project mentor informal obs
Teacher/Teaching assistant observation
visual thinking
observation
drawing
Storyboarding
storyboarding
photography
video
audio
multimedia
brainstorming flowcharts, spider diagrams etc
Refining Refining and reviewing the issues the research is addressing
Technical
Cost
Suitability for purpose
Cost
User-friendliness
Ruggedness
Use of DV as an effective creative tool in schools, especially with younger children
Documenting the journey Documenting the journey - visually, in a sketchbook, research diary, reflective journal...
Reflection and evaluation
End product Synthesising the research into a coherent statement/finished product
Report and website
Children's movies
Dissemination Communicating and disseminating the research
Summary