Middle Schoolers Become Digital Storytellers at Video Production CTE Camp

Middle schooler Carter B has been live-streaming on Twitch for more than a year, engaging in the world not only through books and letters, but through internet videos and photos. This is a common experience for many students in the modern age, whether it’s using video for outlets like Twitch or other social media platforms, school projects, or simply personal enjoyment.

Whatever the case, it’s clear now that much as reading and writing is a foundational skill for students, the internet has made understanding photography and videography just as important for thriving in the professional and social worlds. However, education on those subjects is still mostly lacking for pre-high school students, as video production is not a CTE subject offered in MMSD middle schools.

Starting last summer, MMSD has been taking strides to close that educational gap, providing a camp aptly titled Discover the World of Video Production that teaches the basics of videography to middle schoolers. The camp is one of 23 different opportunities in the summer Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, taking advantage of the new lab spaces in MMSD high schools built thanks to the 2020 referendum.

Like all of the full-day CTE camps, Discover the World of Video Production runs for four day sessions, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Though the camp, located at East High School, only has three sessions this summer, each session is packed tight with activities and experiential learning to give students the greatest sense of familiarity with video production tools possible with the time given. 

“Mostly, they're hands-on, working with video cameras,” Nancy Stillwell, the CTE teacher leading the class, said. “We learned about tripods. We're going to learn about microphones. We're going to sit in the studio in a little bit. So they're just getting a … taste of what video production is all about.” 

Students aren’t just getting the technical knowledge of video production; the class also leads students through creative projects that allow them to think artistically about the stories they’re telling. Within these projects, the students are taught the basics of cinematic storytelling, from the beginning, middle, and end of a story to camera movement/angles to sound effects, as well as how to develop a story based on a prompt. 

On the second day of the session, they were tasked with the creation of a silent film that needed to involve a baby doll prop. These projects ensure not only that students are familiarized with the tools of video production, but know how to employ them effectively as well.

Many students enter the camps with basic knowledge of video production, but Stillwell still works hard to make Discover the World of Video Production a rewarding experience for all children enrolled. This summer, the camp also provided field trips to studios and to places like the zoo, where students engaged in activities such as a video scavenger hunt, or WMTV, where students observed how videography is used in a professional setting.

“What I really love is being able to help these kids elevate their skills because, you know, they're all shooting video on their phones almost every day,” Stillwell remarked. “So if we can make even their little videos they do with their friends that much better, that's so cool. And some of them are very talented, and they're bringing in lots and lots of experience.” 

Importantly, the camp gives middle school students a place to explore the realm of video production that they would likely not have otherwise. The kids are enthusiastically taking advantage of that opportunity. Some are enjoying the camp as a way to deepen their pre-existing passions. 

“I'm excited about learning how to use a camera more and learning about the different qualities of editing,” Zara S. said. “I'm not advanced or anything, and I think it's really cool to up my skill.” 

Other students had little passion for video production going in, but found it through the camp, such as Madalitso W, who shared “I've had a little bit of experience with video production before, but I'm definitely becoming more passionate as I'm doing this camp.” 

No matter the skill or interest level, the class is designed so that every student can benefit from it. 

“Maybe they don't know if they have a passion for it or not,” Stillwell said. “Hopefully I can just get them started, give them that little nibble and see if they want to have a whole meal of doing videos … I think it's really important that it gives them a chance to explore fields they wouldn’t have otherwise, so they can sample and figure out what they like.” 

Her goal seems to have been accomplished- when asked if they hoped to take video classes at the high school level, all of the students who were asked answered yes. 

“I think it would be fun to take more classes in high school,” Zara S. affirmed. “I think there's always ways I can get better.”

At the end of the day, to Stillwell, enrolling in a class like this feels like a no-brainer. “You’ve got a whole chunk of time off in the summer, so why don't you spend four days learning a new skill, making some new friends and trying out something new?”