Databus Issue: 2004 3 07/30/2004
Lights! Camera! Learning!
Joyce Hinkson, Ed.D., ConsultantSpotlight On Technology
Val Verde Continuation High School in Riverside County has students who are serious about video. The students, many of whom have been personally touched by gang violence, created a forceful, thought-provoking film to dissuade other teens from entering gang life. The film, “For Life,” was entered in Panasonic’s KWN Contest, where the creation won four separate awards that included: best fiction/drama, videography, special effects and production design. The students and their teacher, Robert Del Campo, won a trip to New York to accept the awards. Even more impressive than the fact that students from this small school won the most video awards in the history of the Panasonic contest, is the change that has occurred in the students themselves.
During the production of the video, students perfected their animation and editing skills and learned specific software applications to create movie posters and brochures to promote “For Life.” The community was involved in many aspects of the video creation. Some of the movie was filmed in the emergency room at the local community hospital, where staff participated as technical advisors as well as actors. A hospital technician assisted with the very realistic special effects make-up for the student actors, while the sheriff’s department provided technical expertise in the staging of the gang-related shooting.
The video production program has been on the Val Verde campus for a number of years. The process of video production required students to focus attention, to keep on task and, within a time line, utilize language arts skills such as written and verbal communication, storyboarding and researching. Video production has become a more integral part of the campus since the addition of Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) classes, bringing sophisticated video production, cameras, editing equipment and technical training to the site.
Principal John Parker enthusiastically supports the school’s video production program because he knows how important it is for students to have positive experiences that will keep them attending school.
“Many of these students would not be in school today but for their involvement in video production,” he says. “Keeping students in school benefits the students as well as their communities.”
Parker has visited the classes several times and noted that students are developing skills such as teamwork, collaboration, communication and time management through their project involvement. Combining EAST and video production seems to have supplied the “hook” that many students needed to motivate, engage and challenge them. The attributes that students have gained through the elective classes, such as perseverance, problem-solving and critical thinking are being utilized in their core classes as well. Val Verde Unified is a growing district and a second high school will be added this summer. Students are looking forward to working in their newly-designed production classroom.
It has not always been easy to find the necessary funding and support for an elective such as the video production class. Besides John Parker and Robert Del Campo at the Val Verde Continuation High site, the students and their program have received needed assistance from Fred Workman, superintendent, and Mike Boyd, assistant superintendent of business services, at the district’s office. Their support and dedication to finding ways to keep the program alive has made all the difference.
Additional information regarding the “For Life” video project at Val Verde Continuation High may be obtained from John Parker, principal or Robert Del Campo, EAST Facilitator at (909) 940-6155.
