Fun times developing 21st century skills! November 3, 2008

As 21st century educators teach students to become media producers, the journey through the learning process can be hilarious.  When we teach students to use iMovie and Movie Maker, the first projects they come up with as they are practicing using the software and honing their skills often bring out their personalities and make you smile when they produce a really wacky video.  Of course we want students to produce moving pieces about the importance of voting or giving students a voice, but it is just as powerful to see students demonstrate their production skills when they are just goofing around.

Many of my students have YouTube pages are filled with comical stuff they do after hours.

The SNL skit that aired November 1st about a group of Staten Island Tech students who created a crazy giraffe video for the Staten Island Zoo is a great example of this playful production. The use of stiffly animated giraffes, slideshow photos and psychedelic transitions are typical ingredients students use when they play around with video production tools. I was also amused that the representative from the zoo said he “hasn’t seen the movie yet,” but was sure it would be OK.  He was wrong!

While I am still investigating the back story of the skit and will ask my former IS49 students who currently go to SITech for the full scoop, it wouldn’t surprise me if this video was made by students.  I don’t think it was, but as my students are capable of movies of this production level as 8th graders, it should be an easy task for the bright students at SI Tech.

For your enjoyment… Giraffes.