Video sites

image by HH-Michael, 2008 @ flickr.com

Video sites are featuring more in my classes. This is due to a timetabled session in an IT suite. We are able to use listening sites and video. It's interesting to see which students like using video sites.They turn on their machines and plug in the headphones. Within minutes Marcin is logged onto a music video site and is singing the words out of tune. “At least it is in English”, I reassure myself. Pavel is watching a short film which has been sent him from his country. He calls me over to watch it with him. I am drawn to it, but know I must attend to the class. He is immersed in it. He keeps playing the film over and over again. It seems he is day dreaming, but at the same time attached to the screen by an invisible cord.

IT Session 2

image from www.freeimages.co.uk

Just taken on a couple of volunteers to help in the IT sessions.

This leaves me to free up some time to give one to one support to some of the boys who really need it.

I am not sure how it will work out on Windows Movie Maker. We will see!

The thing is I am giving them the help they need. A couple of students in the class are on fire! They seem to lap up everything that they are asked to take on. These are the ones I think will be useful to have as a core editing group.

Praxis

Many of the reflections have taken place immediately and resulting in a change of practice. This praxis has initially been experimental within the video making concept. Ideas have been brought to light then squashed immediately. The ditching comes from an awareness that the task has no further use. This was particularly noticeable in the collection of mobile phone images.

The lighting was ideal on this summers day. Lots of the guys were wearing T-shirts. Not everyone was feeling comfortable with each other. I could sense an unease. Not from the activity, but how some of the students were going about the activity. I knew it was an experiment. Just see where it goes. Suddenly two of the girls start yelping. One of them seems genuinely distressed. “leave me alone” shouts Micaela. I walk over with a confident manner. I ask what is going on. Pushtar has his phone incredibly close to Micaela’s face. It is disturbingly close. I tell Pushtar to leave her alone. Take some other shots…. “Maybe of the scenery”

5 minutes later and Micaela’s calling again. This time it’s Markuse who has his phone pointed at her. I’ve had enough. It’s meant to be a bit of fun, but I think some of the guys have become too personal. A way of attacking another student. “OK that’s it. We’re going back to college”

For the most part the activity worked. Students managed to collect images to be used in a digital story.

At other times the reflection has taken place after the event in a separate location.