Video: An Accessible Video: An Accessible Technology for All Technology for All

Language ClassroomsLanguage Classrooms

Michael BushMichael Bush

Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University

Michael_Bush@byu.eduMichael_Bush@byu.edu

Who am I?Who am I?

The Challenge of Language The Challenge of Language LearningLearning

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

Technology PromiseTechnology Promise

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

A “Story-Telling” MediumA “Story-Telling” Medium

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

The Role of TechnologyThe Role of Technology

Use technology’s bandwidth to provide Use technology’s bandwidth to provide access for students to people, sights, and access for students to people, sights, and sounds of the target culturesounds of the target culture

Use stories to deal not only with the Use stories to deal not only with the affective component in learning, but the affective component in learning, but the cognitive as wellcognitive as well

The Battle of the TechnologiesThe Battle of the Technologies

The processing of sounds and images The processing of sounds and images determined the survival of humankind for determined the survival of humankind for thousands of years before the invention of thousands of years before the invention of writing. writing.

What primary technology do our teachers What primary technology do our teachers use today?use today? Textbook!Textbook!

Using technology?Using technology? Not Not thethe solution, solution,

But could be part of But could be part of aa solution. solution.

Making technology a tool…Making technology a tool… Technology-enhanced language learningTechnology-enhanced language learning VideoVideo

Addressing the Challenge?Addressing the Challenge?

Delivering the VideoDelivering the Video

On VCR?On VCR?

Online?Online?

On DVD?On DVD? Yes!

Online versus DVD?Online versus DVD?

Actually, we need both!Actually, we need both!

Each has its strengths:Each has its strengths: High fidelity versus accessibility…High fidelity versus accessibility…

Sources of VideoSources of Video

Commercial videoCommercial video

Roll your own…Roll your own…

Commercial VideoCommercial Video

Textbook publishersTextbook publishers Business model!Business model!

Standalone productsStandalone products Integration!Integration!

Commercial movies…Commercial movies… Copyright issues!Copyright issues!

Copyright IssuesCopyright Issues

Purchase the rights…Purchase the rights… Not cheap!Not cheap!

Electronic Film Review (EFR)Electronic Film Review (EFR) Video Asset Description (VAD)Video Asset Description (VAD) Customized Video Playback (CVP)Customized Video Playback (CVP)

Rolling your own…Rolling your own…

Video production is affordableVideo production is affordable Producing bad stuff is easyProducing bad stuff is easy Producing good stuff is harder but doableProducing good stuff is harder but doable

Students can be involved.Students can be involved.

Whatever you do will require a plan!Whatever you do will require a plan!

Producing VideoProducing Video

Study abroad studentsStudy abroad students

Bonnie videoBonnie video

Summer Institute for high school teachersSummer Institute for high school teachers

Student mentoring projectsStudent mentoring projects TanzaniaTanzania RomaniaRomania ParisParis

Federal grantsFederal grants

Doing Passably Good StuffDoing Passably Good Stuff

Tell stories Tell stories Find real stories Find real stories

or at leastor at least Suspend disbeliefSuspend disbelief

Aspire to decent production valuesAspire to decent production values

Plan! Plan! Plan!Plan! Plan! Plan!

Determine treatment.Determine treatment.

Develop scope and sequence (What? And Develop scope and sequence (What? And in what order?).in what order?).

Produce scripts and/or semi-scripts.Produce scripts and/or semi-scripts.

Write lesson plans.Write lesson plans.

Lay out production (in-country) plan.Lay out production (in-country) plan.

Production ValuesProduction Values

OrganizeOrganize Constitute a “team” for the shootConstitute a “team” for the shoot Plan the shootPlan the shoot

Attend to video qualityAttend to video quality Use a tripod whenever possibleUse a tripod whenever possible Avoid fast pans and zoomsAvoid fast pans and zooms Get plenty of B-rollGet plenty of B-roll

Attend to audio quality Attend to audio quality Use microphonesUse microphones Monitor recordingMonitor recording

At the Low EndAt the Low End

At the Higher EndAt the Higher End

Using Video in the ClassroomUsing Video in the Classroom

Get students ready to view the videoGet students ready to view the video ““Activate the schema”Activate the schema” Elicit background knowledgeElicit background knowledge

View the video recursively with specified View the video recursively with specified taskstasks Move from global to specific comprehensionMove from global to specific comprehension

Check comprehensionCheck comprehension

Help students relate & apply to their own Help students relate & apply to their own liveslives

Project DemonstrationsProject Demonstrations