Integrating Digital Storytelling and the Filmmaking Process Into Core Content Instruction

Integrating Digital Storytelling and the Filmmaking Process Into Core Content Instruction

You will leave this workshop ready to:

• Build and reinforce key writing and research skills through filmmaking and digital storytelling
• Link lesson plan ideas to the common core and incorporate these into your own classroom
• Bring digital storytelling to life with your students using free and inexpensive tools and resources
• Revitalize your teaching practice and energize students
• Utilize tips on project-based learning and classroom management

Workshop Description
Today’s students are not only consumers of digital media, but also producers, using highly engaging technology to create, connect, and collaborate on meaningful and personal projects. Research shows instructional strategies that intentionally embrace new technologies have tremendous potential to change how students learn and teachers teach. Rick Wray, the Executive Director of the Spy Hop Institute For Teachers (SHIFT), trains educators how to harness the transformative potential of filmmaking and digital storytelling to improve teaching practice, stimulate classroom climate and student engagement, and ultimately, increase student achievement. The SHIFT professional development approach equips teachers with a contemporary skill set and provides them with a technology-infused curriculum that promotes media literacy and helps students acquire a deeper understanding of critical core content while also contributing to their 21st century workplace and higher education readiness.

The one day SHIFT workshop will demonstrate how filmmaking methodology combined with intentionally designed lesson plans can result in increases in positive learning behaviors and an opportunity for students to acquire, apply, and build upon their core content knowledge. The first half of the day will highlight how this instructional process can be a multidisciplinary approach that strongly builds on the foundation of traditional literacy as well as research, technical, and critical analysis skills.  Participants will learn about the collaborative and project-based nature of filmmaking and digital storytelling and how teaching using adaptable and relevant media arts tools engages students in exploring personal, academic, and community issues while cultivating cognitive skills.

The second half of the workshop will be devoted to a hands-on training experience. Using their own computers, participants with or without prior filmmaking or digital storytelling experience, will create and produce their own digital media project integrating text, audio, and video resources. A tutorial on Apple’s iMovie and Windows Movie Maker and Windows Live Movie Maker will be included as part of this project-based activity.

Facilitator:  Rick Wray, Executive Director of the Spy Hop Institute For Teachers (SHIFT)
Rick realized the dynamic nature of digital storytelling and its enormous untapped potential after co-founding an designing and teaching numerous media arts workshops for Higher Ground Learning (HGL), creative tutoring and mentoring center.  In 1999, Rick passed on the reins of HGL and founded Utah’s only not-for-profit youth media center, Spy Hop Productions. Over a decade later, Spy Hop Productions has swelled to nearly 20 full-time media mentors and its programming has involved over 10,000 young people ages five to nineteen through innovative audio, video, and interactive programming. In 2003 he was the recipient of the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Service to the Arts Award and in 2010 was a Utah finalist for the Ernst and Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year. In September of 2010, Rick stepped down as Spy Hop Productions’ Executive Director to launch the full time teacher-training program, the Spy Hop Institute for Teachers (SHIFT), where he is the current Executive Director.

Registration
PNAIS Attendees

• Early Bird (By January 6): $95
• Regular (After January 6): $145

Non-PNAIS Attendees: $195

TO RECEIVE THE REGISTRATION DISCOUNT: Your registration must be complete and payment must be postmarked or received by the appropriate deadline.

• For registrations completed by mail or online registrations with payment by check, payment must be postmarked by deadline date.
• Online registrations paid by credit card must be completed by 11:59pm on the deadline date.

Watch our short Online Registration how-to video.  For best results, click the play icon (triangle) and then allow the video to load before starting playback.

• Download a Mail-in Registration Form

Cancellation Policy
Substitutions may be made any time prior to the conference. Written cancellations received by January 13, 2012 are eligible for a refund after a $25 cancellation fee. Cancellations received after January 13, 2012 are ineligible for any refund.