Developing Language Skills through Digital Video

Which of the CLC's aims and objectives did the project hope to cover?
- Improve access to, and use of, the latest education technology for pupils, teachers and the community;
- Increase attainment levels through use of that technology;
- Improve the quality of teaching and learning;
- Act as test beds for innovation and new ways of working.

The Project and its Aims
The Shireland CLC specialises in the areas of Languages & Literacy. During our initial audit a number of schools identified MFL as a focus area ,in particular the need to target Year 9 students to raise the numbers gaining levels 5 to 7. Areas identified included developing extended writing and speaking and encouraging creativity. A range of MFL programmes with an e-learning focus have been devised to support not only students' linguistic development but also their cultural awareness. This particular programme focused on the development of writing & speaking skills through the use of digital video and iPods. The project had four specific aims: to improve students' writing skills through storyboarding, to develop students' confidence, pronunciation and fluency using iPods, to encourage students to organise and structure their own learning and to encourage team work and collaboration through the creation of a digital video in the target language.

How was the Project Run and Catered for?
A planning meeting was held with the teachers to complete a programme matrix, to agree the target group, target levels and objectives of the programme, the hardware and software to be used and training needs. The agreed focus was the creation of a 2 Minute Digital Video in German using iBooks/iMovie and iPods. The teachers involved visited the CLC for training and pupils were introduced to the programme at school, where they revised grammatical structures and then created a script in German.

During their first visit to the CLC students completed storyboards, practised their scripts using iPods and then commenced with the filming of their videos. Back at school they further refined their storyboards and practised their scripts using a loan iPod.

During their second visit students then completed their films and edited them using imovie. The sessions were team taught by the CLC staff and the teachers from the Partner School.

Outcomes of the Project:
The students produced work of quality. The use of iPods was an excellent means by which to focus on pronunciation and fluency and to encourage confidence in speaking skills. The production of the digital video encouraged collaboration and developed both language skills and ICT capability. The students involved are currently being tracked and SATs levels will be known at the end of the year. The teachers involved gained in confidence and skills and we will be running a full day training for all Heads of MFL on the use of Digital Video in MFL Teaching next term.

Lessons learnt:
I would encourage teachers and students to dedicate more time to script writing at school to maximise use of the equipment at the CLC.I would also strongly recommend the use of iPods to develop student's confidence in developing speaking skills in an MFL.