Designing a Video Production Curricula for an Urban Setting

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to illustrate the value of integrating video production into urban school districts. Research and experience have shown that urban children bring a different vocabulary and multiple media exposures to the classroom, learning in different ways and through different avenues than traditional students. This paper explores the ways 21st century educators must make use of the visual media to enhance learning, and provide new ways of communicating with images as well as the written word to reach urban students. Urban schools, especially, need to equalize technology access for the "haves" and "have nots". Video programs, as both a teaching tool, and a separate curriculum, can close the gap for access to technology. It can also close a communication and vocabulary gap that exists between suburban children and urban children. For educators the use of video can illustrate traditional learning and build the cultural vocabulary in every classroom. For the student, learning video production can be a means of self-expression or a career readiness skill. It will give us a valuable way to produce college and career ready students regardless of their cultural, social or economic environment.