Shakespeare - Machinima Unit of Work

[Dean Groom]

Ive posted a short project based learning project for my 9th Grade students on TeenSecondClassroom, and they have begun work on developing a 2 minute flick, that ultimately they will post on Machinima.com. This is a 6 week project - (1 hour per week in class, plus one hour self-directed). I've posted the unit here, so anyone can use or modify it. It will be posted to the Skoolaborate wiki too. Students will complete the task in Skoolaborate and Open Sim. We have a 'soft' critical friends review in 2 weeks time, based on their blog journals where they research and explore the task, then a firm completion 5 weeks from now.

Of course we are a PBL school, so right now the students are working through the entry document to complete their initial 'know' and 'need to know list'.

Our students can produce video already - iMovie and Final Cut, so their tech need to know is more about using the SL camera and preparing simple sets for recording. They will need to find out that they have to learn to screen record and also they are challenged to look further into 'creative commons'.

Like all our PBL projects, this is a multi-literacy approach. In fact, this is an extension to the student's social studies project - in which they are role playing a script that they have developed.

Please feel free to use the Unit if you like, and share the work later so we can compare experiences

[Helen Otway]

Hi Dean,

This is great. I can't wait to see their efforts, both in their machinima and their reflective blogs. I can just imagine the variations of the Shakespear themes and their own interpretation. Cool idea.

I've also just learned about 'scribd' now thanks to your post.

Thanks,
Helen

[Lauren O'Grady]

Hey Dean,
Cannot wait to work with everyone on this.
Dewi

[Julie Squires]

Dean, this is very powerful stuff and a great way to connect today's students with Shakespeare. How long did take for them (and you) to develop a good working knowledge of machinima?