This curriculum is designed as a guide for a 1-day intensive hands-on workshop. We also have a 2-day workshop, that can be restructured to be offered in multiple sessions over a number of days, depending on your participants time constraints.
The curriculum outline integrates Nortel LearniT videos, real assignments and actual examples from students. It represents a merger of the Nortel LearniT online resources, coupled with the Nortel LearniT Center at the Arlington (VA) Career Center’s proven skill-based, project-driven approach to digital media instruction. A special thanks to David Welsh, Instructor of Multi-Media for his work to develop and refine this curriculum.
Download this 1-day workshop in MS Word here.
Background: Interview and Video Production Skills
Many studies have shown that the integration of technology into education can create a more engaging learning environment for students. By captivating learners in the process of delivering hands-on multimedia projects, more time is spent on task and as a result the students often learn their topics at a deeper level.
Educators who are comfortable working with multimedia in the classroom can create an enhanced learning environment where students are excited about learning.
This curriculum outline is intended for teacher training but could also be used as a whole or in parts with other students, if teaching technical multimedia skills. The sequences of project-driven assignments in each area build student skills and help them to generate media of increasing complexity.
This curriculum outline integrates Nortel LearniT videos, hands-on practice and student examples to create a step by step developmental process for acquiring video skills that can then be applied in educational settings. Core to this training are the Nortel LearniT videos which provide foundation skill instruction that hands-on activities build on.
Course Outline:
1) Introduction to Nortel LearniT
2) Digital Video Production
3) Pre-Production
4) Production
(a) Interviews
(b) Skits
5) Post Production
6) Wrap-Up – Integrating Skills into Teaching – Nortel LearniT Lesson Plans
8:30 – 10:15 Interviews
First interview shoot
In-class interview practice
10:15 – 10:30 Morning Break
Second interview shoot
4:00 – 4:30 View Productions - Workshop Wrap-up
Housekeeping rules (adjust locally):
- You can video tape in the training area and outside the training area but the participants must be accompanied by <insert escort here>; you cannot film other employees who may be outside and you cannot film the <insert restrictions here>.
- Washrooms are down the hall near the eating area
- There are candy and drink machines in the eating area
- There is coffee in the kitchen area – there is water in the fridge – and lunches may be stowed in the fridge as well
- Please be quiet in the hallways as there are other courses going on in nearby classrooms
- Smokers need to go outside and use the smoking areas near the benches 50 feet from entrance
- You will need an escort to cafeteria for lunch
- Access to the Nortel campus is restricted and you must be accompanied by a <company> employee at all times
- Access to the training facility door is restricted and requires a Nortel employee’s badge to enter
Technical Requirements
Hardware
- PC
- Firewire port (IEEE 1394 on PC)
- speakers for video review and for production editing (one per team and instructor)
- Digital video camera
- Firewire port (need cable too)
- mic input (optional but important for good quality sound and practicing sound skills)
- mini DV tapes (at least one per team)
- tripod
- microphone (lavaliere or hand held (both recommended))
- Lights (optional - an assortment of lights with clips or without – at least 3 – or lighting kit)
Software
- iMovie or MovieMaker (free software, feel free to upgrade to another package such as Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Pinnacle, etc…)
- Other
- USB Pen (or jump) drive (optional - may be used for transferring files)
- USB Pen (or jump) drive (optional - may be used for transferring files)
INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCTION – 3.5 hours –
(NOTE: the Google (Flash) videos are downloadable)
(a) Introductions – 15 min
- As the students begin to settle show the Nortel LearniT introductory video
- www.nortellearnit.org -> Welcome –> Short Video – Come LearniT
- Introduce the Lead and Assistant Instructors!
- Have each of the students quickly introduce themselves, what school they are from, how much video production experience they have (high, med, low), and what they want to get out of this course
- Rearrange the students into groups trying to mix people with different skills levels
- Talk about goals of course:
- At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Use editing tools such as MovieMaker
- Use video production accessories such as lighting and microphones
- Produce a variety of different types of video such as interview and newscast
- Use on-line lesson plans and other teaching resources to assist in classroom integration
- Walk away with many suggestions on how to incorporate video-based projects into school curriculum!
- Have fun, ask lots of questions, please provide feedback for future courses
- If video or class pictures are being taken, students should sign the Release Form. If a student does not want to be included in a video then please record their face and name to ensure we edit them out of any video that is captured.
(b) Intro to the Nortel LearniT website – 10 min
- Site is available 24-7 and kids and parents can use it at home
- Show the links for videos for Video Production – this is where most of the videos for this course are located
- All the content is free and they can add their own content, like lessons or student samples
- Show class the lesson plans and some of the resources available
- For example:
- Under Lessons show them the Lesson plan for Career Bytes
- Nortel LearniT -> Lessons -> Vocational/Career -> Career Bytes
- Under Resources/Project Handouts and Templates show them
- Nortel LearniT -> Resources -> Handouts
- -> How to conduct and Interview
- -> Interview Questions
- -> Interview Production Checklist
- Under Lessons show them the Lesson plan for Career Bytes
- Nortel LearniT is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting teachers and students in their effective use of 21st century communication tools, through innovative, peer-oriented, project based activities. The goal of Nortel LearniT is to provide teachers with access to professional development and classroom-ready resources that will facilitate the integration of technology as a teaching and learning tool.
3) Nortel LearniT provides educators and students with the tools to develop skills that help them advance their technology expertise. Our technology curriculum currently includes:
- Discovering the Internet
- Online Safety
- Digital Ethics
- Imaging
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Web Content Creation
- Video Production
- Basic Networking
(c) Intro to Video Camera and Interview – 90 min
Assignment – Get students to shoot videos of each other – practice interviews
- NortelLearniT ->Technology –> Video Production – Production – Cameras
2) Hand out camcorders, batteries, tapes and tape labeling supplies
- Use White Art tape and Maker to mark any tapes
- Show students how to label - team, date, project name), importance of not getting tape stuck in machine, don’t tape over door, etc
3) Have each group go off and take turns taping, interviewing and being interviewed, using the following questions (they can add their own questions if they want):
- Start with an opening sequence
- Hi we are here today at Nortel interviewing students for the Nortel Video Production Course:
- Then ask interview questions starting with some closed questions
- What is your name?
- What school do you work at?
- Do you have any video production experience?
- Then some open questions
- If yes, can you elaborate?
- What type of video production does your school do or want to do?
- What are you looking to get out of this Video Production class?
- Then do a short wrap up and end interview
- Let the students wander outside the class room to do their interviews
- Tell them not to worry too much about the quality – just practice shooting some video of each other and take about 20 minutes
- Come back to the classroom and collect all the tapes
4) Review the process watch rule of thirds and some interviews off Nortel LearniT then watch class tape and evaluate for shot composition, camera steadiness, audio, etc.
Ask the group how that went?
- How did they feel about shooting?
- Did they feel prepared and equipped to do an interview?
- What should have been different if anything?
- Did they learn anything while shooting from one interview to another? What?
- Many students are assigned a video project and given less instruction than you have had – so now let’s never do that again and let’s agree to first provide the opportunity for all to build their skills
- Watch these videos and point out things
- Nortel LearniT -> Resources -> Real Tech
- Rule of Thirds Video
- Review the key points
- Eyes on top and/or left or right third lines for lead
- Lower thirds for text titles
- Cut off head for close-up
- Review 5 foot Rule if no external microphone is available
- Review the key points
- Nortel LearniT -> Resources -> Tech Talk
- David Welsh interview
- Put up questions as text
- Note Rule of Thirds and lead
- Try to point out errors like you can hear the first question
- Nortel LearniT -> Resources -> Career Bytes
- Jump 5 interview
- A different style. Asking questions on screen, using interviewer.
- Need a wider shot to get all of them
- Used b-roll and graphics
- Review several student interviews – if you don’t have a video tape deck you will have to just plug the camera into the computer and play it through Movie Maker
- Look at how they labeled their tapes – make sure they are labeled properly
- Watch some of the videos
- Things to look for, talk about:
- Talk about lighting – mention a camera light ($50), going outside or another place where the lighting is better
- Talk about holding the camera steady
- Talk about rule of thirds – notice how most video clips have the faces in the middle – too much space above the head is not good, too much headroom
- You want to see both eyes – shot over their shoulder – not important to see interviewer
- Talk about background noise, what to do if it is noisy in the area, etc – 5 foot rule
- Talk about lead space in the frame if talking to someone or looking in a direction
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5) <!--[endif]-->Emphasize that you are going to show how to professionally produce quality videos and link these skills into curriculum using material from the Nortel LearniT website.
(d) Intro to Digital Video Production and Interview re-shoot – 115 min
Moving into digital production there are many other skills to learn to effectively produce good video. Some of the basics include the Rule-of-Thirds, the 5 Foot Rule for the use of on-camera microphones, and two videos discussing sound and lighting in video production. A tripod is also an invaluable tool for capturing consistent and steady shots.
- Nortel LearniT -> Technology -> Video Production -> Lighting
- Nortel LearniT -> Technology -> Video Production -> Sound
- Discuss types of interview questions (open, closed)
- Talk about difference between closed and open questions
- Closed questions easy to answer, establish facts, etc
- Open questions are more interesting, you can learn more about a person (if you had a million dollars what would you do?)
- Walk through setup of equipment – camera on tripod, light on camera (wrap cord around handle), background, etc
- Set up video cameras on tripods (lefty loosy, righty tighty)
- Make sure cameras are securely fastened – show them how to hold and mount camera on tripod – make sure you are right there for this so you don’t lose a camera
- External mics – camera must have a mic plug to accept mic,
- Wrap mic cable around camera handle – so you don’t damage connector
- Connect the On-camera light
- Zoom in for focus, then zoom out
- Practice zooming in and out – nice and slow
- Show difference between using light and no light.
- Ensure mic is on, below chin, make sure interviewer puts mic in front of interviewee
- Discuss other mic types – clip on, boom, etc (advantages)
- boom – no cables, hidden, keeps kids busy, etc
- Make sure there is an interview opening – welcome – and a close or recap.
- Review the concept of b-roll, especially for interviews and newscasts
- Work with students to shoot one observed interview. Take students from each group to fulfill production roles. Assign roles for students including: interviewer, interviewee, camera person, sound person, director, and you can either act as producer or assign the role. Setup tripod, camera, light, and microphone etc in middle of classroom and have each group do one or two interviews while others watch. Have someone act as Director (introduce concept of roles for kids (Director, boom mic assistant, camera person, etc)) and just practice doing an interview – zoom in, out, focus on Rule of Thirds, etc. Talk about how the quality is better with mic and light, use over the shoulder view to get both eyes of interviewee, etc. You want to project these trials up on a screen while you are doing it so everyone can see.
- Emphasize – see how much better the interviews are when you use a tripod to keep the camera steady, how much better the sound is when using a mic (no background noise, etc) and how much better the picture is when you have good lighting, how the sound is better with microphones, and how the picture is better when you follow the rule of thirds and shot variety.
Provide student teams an opportunity to re-shoot one more interview. Then return for edit and review.
Armed with all of the Nortel LearniT resources for interviews, ask students to take their cameras, microphones, tripods, lights etc… and shoot one good interview.
4) Introduction to editing. (30 min)
- Review the Microsoft videos for editing with Movie Maker, capturing and basic editing.
- Nortel LearniT -> Technology – Video Production -> iMovie Capturing
- Nortel LearniT -> Technology – Video Production -> iMovie Basic Editing
- Nortel LearniT – Resources -> Educator Web sites -> Movie Maker – Downloading Video
5) Capture and edit interviews (15 min)
- Demonstrate the editing software being used if there is not video available
- Basic importing clips
- Auto clipping
- Timline vs storyboard
- Transition and video effects
- Titling
- Saving (and importance of saving frequently)
- Exporting (rendering final video)
- Hand the interviews into the instructor and do a class review of the interviews for cinematography skills – looking for sound, lighting, Rule of Thirds, shot choice, framing etc.
(e) PRE-PRODUCTION OVERVIEW – 30 MIN
Agenda:
- Overview the three phases of production
c. Post-production (editing) and distribution (export, copies, publishing)
- Go to the Nortel Learnit site Video Production area of the site and highlight how the videos are broken down into the three phases and what videos are there.
- Importance of Pre-Production
- Nortel LearniT -> Technology -> Video Pro -> Introduction -> Overview
- Nortel LearniT -> Technology –> Video Pro –> Introduction –> Project: Introduction
- Nortel LearniT -> Technology –> Video Pro –> Pre-Production –> Planning a Production
- Pre-Production planning is the most important phase of video production and that you will be covering more about this in the afternoon – but a quick introduction is relevant here
- Planning the shoot, surveying the site
- Brainstorming ideas for production, topics, approach, location, actors, roles
- Scripting
- Story boarding
- Shot selections - coverage
LUNCH – escort Students to lunch/break area
(f) PRODUCTION – 4 HOURS
Agenda:
Assignment Introduction - preproduction (90 min)
Create a video from start to finish working through all the phases of production. The importance of preproduction will come through in the timeliness of delivery and the quality of the final product.
The script is basically complete. You may not alter it significantly. Script writing is not part of this activity. However brainstorming around the script, storyboarding and shot selection are part of the preproduction process. As you create your storyboards you should be considering a variety of shots including close shots, medium shots, and wide shots as well as possibly different angles for effect. The key to having fun with this project is to be creative, everyone has the same script so what makes one so much more interesting than the other?
- Sample Breakup Videos.
Breakup - Geese
Breakup - Bathroom
Show Nortel LearniT videos
What are story boards and how do you use them to ensure you are covering all the shots you need.
Nortel LearniT ->Technology –> Video Pro –> Pre-Production – Shotlists & Storyboard
Some tips on getting the most out of your production time.
Nortel LearniT -> Technology–> Video Pro –> Production – Get What You Want From a Shoot
- Tell students about Script video – not necessary for this class as we will be using the
Breakup Script. Students can use this video if they are getting students to write scripts
Nortel LearniT -> Technology –> Video Pro– Pre-Production – Scripts
- Brainstorm around the script – adapt the script if necessary
- Create a Storyboard for the script
- Shoot all the shots needed to get good shot coverage – taking multiple shots takes longer but gives options in post production
- Nortel LearniT -> Technology -> Video Pro -> Production -> Video production sound
- Nortel LearniT -> Technology -> Video Pro -> Production -> Video production project
- Edit the video – try to avoid voice-overs as these can be time consuming
- Add titles and credits
- Share
Congratulations Video Producers!
(g) Review and Wrap Up Discussion - integrating Nortel LearniT (15 min)
Search for a lesson you might use in your class and discuss how you see using multimedia and Nortel LearniT in the class.
Nortel LearniT – integrating technology into the curriculum and engaging learners along the way.