You can really see the results of a ‘full on' day's learning for the students of Writhlington School who made ‘Films for Learning'.....
What better way to inspire and kick-start learning than to create films for the classroom? The opportunity presented to us by Mark and ‘Films for Learning' was too good to miss, and we jumped at it. Together with our well-established and successful Orchid Project, students selected from the English department at Writhlington School spent the day developing skills in team-work, communication, leadership, responsibility and problem-solving to name a few. In addition, the students' subject knowledge soared, to include understanding of the Orchid Project's conservation methods, scientific processes, the global relevance of sustainability and geographical locations. The results were impressive: four films and thirty or so smiling faces.
The four films made by the Writhlington students were
Sowing Orchid Seeds: To View >>>CLICK HERE<<<
Sowing Sinking Seeds: To View >>>CLICK HERE<<<
Growing Green Pod Orchid Seed: To View >>>CLICK HERE<<<
Replating Orchids
Students involved in the Orchid Project are used to celebrity status, having recently appeared on the BBC's ‘Gardener's World'; they regularly appear at national shows and have accumulated an impressive silverware collection from the Chelsea Flower Show and many other exhibitions. But the collaboration with the English department was something new, and priceless for those involved. As a cross-curricular venture, the day was a real success. Mark led a tutorial on filming processes and terminology before the English students were given a tour of filming locations including laboratories and greenhouses. The four teams combined 2 Orchid with 4 English experts, and soon assigned roles to their team-members; a Director was elected for each team and the creative juices flowed. The team-work did not necessarily come naturally, but leadership skills emerged, and those with a strong degree of resilience gave up their lunch-break and time after school to get the films finished. Those with particular musical flare were chosen to compose a score, and in the meantime the films took shape. Once the editing process began, all were keen to polish the morning's efforts into good quality, informative films. Mini-interviews were conducted, and the production of voice-overs gave those with clarity and eloquence a chance to shine.
The day was action-packed and exhilarating, and provided an example of learning at its best. Students yielded surprising talents, and there were chances for all to make an impression throughout the day. As individual learning earns a higher status within the education system, producing films in the classroom seems to offer many of the key ingredients, with technical and creative opportunities alike. Soon, we'll be putting together some more films for the website, to celebrate successes elsewhere in the school. Moreover, we hope to enable learning and raise the profile of achievement.
This film project was coordinatated by Helen Wardlaw who is an English Teacher at Writhlington School.
The Writhlington Orchid project is run by Simon Pugh-Jones who is a Science Teacher at Writhlington School.
To visit the WrithlingtonOrchid Project >>>CLICK HERE<<<