Making documentary films: Introducing the new leaders!

There are many learning areas that could benefit from the introduction of digital media and smart technologies. In many ways this full range of approaches were capitalised upon in the author's work as part of the URLearning Project in south east Queensland. This article details how to introduce the use of video production into the curriculum by using the app iMovie on the iPad for both camera and edit functions. The article begins by introducing the pedagogical approach to using iPads that the author has found works with students and teachers. It then outlines a step by step guide for using the iMovie app. Finally, the author discusses some of the benefits of using these technologies by drawing on an example of classroom practice. In this case, the iPads were used as part of a Year 6 documentary film-making unit, where students were asked to present themselves to a wider audience as leaders. Eventually the films were used by those students who wished to be considered for leadership roles in the final year of their primary schooling. In past years, a teacher had recorded leadership speeches of only those students who were applying for the leadership roles. By utilising the class set of iPads, students were able to work in pairs to record each other's speeches. This opened up the activity to all students, so everyone had the opportunity to consider their strengths and to think about the best ways to put these forward to convince others