TECHNOS

November 20, 2008

Jason Ohler’s Green Screen Storytelling Project More than Mere Show & Tell

Green-screen storytelling, step-by-step

Pre-step 1: Plan (with colleagues), get permissions (from parents), paint (a classroom wall green)

Pre-step 2: Unit of instruction (teacher instructs to guide content)

Pre-step 3: Cultural values (teacher addresses values to guide moral of the story)

Step 1: Tell a story
Jason tells a story to model storytelling, then leads a class discussion about what made the story work.

Step 2: Map the story
Jason demonstrates how to "map" the story, showing where the problem, resolution, and character development is in the story. The mapping approach used is Dillingham's VPS (Visual Portrait of a Story).

Step 3: Teach storytelling
Jason shows students how to tell effective stories through the use of "sound, motion, and expression" (Dillingham).

Step 4: Storystorm
Jason leads a brainstorm about finding stories from within us, a process he calls "storystorming." Students think about stories in terms of a problem, a solution, and the changes characters undergo to solve problems.

Step 5: Students map their stories
Students choose a story from the storystorm, and map it using the VPS.

Step 6: Students tell their stories
Students stand and tell their stories for the first time in front of the entire class. Jason demonstrates how to critique the story by explaining what he thinks was strong about it, as well as what could be stronger.

Step 7: Students write their stories
After telling their stories, students write them. They use "the writing process," going through as many iterations as curriculum goals require.

Step 8: Students tell, retell, and peer critique stories
Students tell, retell their stories, as well as critique each other's stories, in pairs or small groups.

Step 9: Students create background artwork
Students create 3–5 pictures that they will "slide" behind their recorded performances in the production process. Typically these are done with simple materials: crayons, pencils, standard paper.

Step 10: Students scan artwork
Students scan their artwork electronically, so it can be used in the production process.

Step 11: Students perform in front of the green wall
Students perform before an audience in front of their "green screen," which is usually a wall painted green. The audience usually consists of their classmates, parents, and invited guests.

Step 12: Students record their performances
Students video record their performances. As many students as possible are involved to do all the tasks, including running the camera, placing the wireless mike on the storyteller, being the floor manager, managing from the performance schedule, etc.

Step 13: Students create background music for titles
To make this an all-original production, students should create music that plays when the DVD launches (much like a commercial DVD). In the case of this project, students sang a song that their teacher, Ms. Nikki Polk, wrote and played on her guitar.

Step 14: Students are trained in chroma editing
Nome Elementary Technology leader, Justin Heinrich, showed students how to do "green-screen" chroma editing. They are using iMovie with a special plug-in ($30). Justin reported that the students did all the work, including basic movie editing, chroma editing, and DVD production.

Step 15: Students add artwork
Students add their scanned artwork behind their performances, replacing the green of the wall with their original drawings.

Step 16: Students edit, master, help each other
Students help each other edit their movies, create, and master the DVD.

Step 17: Give copies to students, parents, participants
Everyone involved with the project was given a copy of the final DVD, including—and especially—parents. (It’s a good idea to make as many copies of the DVD as possible and give them to school board and community members, as well as anyone else you feel should know about the great activities your school promotes.)

Step 18: Celebration!
It's important to celebrate success. A final group showing is a great event—you can invite the school and community!