Education

Student Assessments Suggest Video Topics

And speaking of increased student achievement: Once Project LIVE teachers return to the classroom, they use the district’s Edusoft system (a web-based student assessment platform) to discern the specific subject areas and content standards where students are struggling. Working with their classes, the teachers then oversee video projects that delve into those subjects and reinforce key learnings.

For example, with some careful Edusoft data mining fifth-grade teacher Rob Shepherd at L. R. Green Elementary School realized that his students had not grasped a math standard that had been introduced two years prior. He encouraged his class to come up with concepts for videos that would explain the standard, and then handle all of the video production themselves. The resulting project — “Going in Circles” — used a production formula that continues to be successful.

The way that all Apple products work together gives teachers the freedom to do really great things with their kids.

— Kathy Shirley

Says Shirley, “His kids work in groups to come up with the script ideas, and then they have to present them to the rest of the class — just like making a movie pitch in Hollywood. Once the class selects the best concept they divide into teams; each team takes a portion of the script to write. The whole class then takes part in the filming and editing — literally every single student in the class is involved.”

Videos Make Connections to Learning

Not only do students become excited about their video projects, they also learn while doing, Shirley adds: “What we’ve found is that by going deeply into one area, students make connections to other areas of learning. In the Project LIVE classrooms, students outscore their peers in both language arts and mathematics, regardless of what the content of the video is.

“Using our analytics, we’ve been able to isolate who were Project LIVE kids and who weren’t, and compare scores,” continues Shirley. “Depending on the subgroup you look at, we’re seeing a 10- to 30-point difference in standardized tests. Where we’re seeing huge, huge differences is in those student subgroups who are historically challenged to make AYP and API targets — our English Language Learners, our Special Education students, and our Title I kids. So that’s what made everyone stand up and say, ‘OK, this is something we’ll definitely support.’”