Using WeVideo in the Classroom

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​Understanding the Why

The Partnership for 21st Century Learning identified the Four C's as learning and innovation skills students need to be productive in the 21st century. Practicing communication and collaboration skills prepares students for success in career and college. Honing critical thinking skills prepares students for success in college and the workforce. According to Pearson, creativity is a skill sought by employers in their job candidates because employees "using more creative practices tend to enjoy higher performance." Providing students the opportunity to practice the Four C's is an important component of lesson planning in the digital age.

WeVideo can help teachers provide opportunities for students to practice the Four C's. Asking students to produce digital videos “helps build conceptual skills like understanding a narrative and using inductive reasoning to solve problems” (Czarnecki, 2009, p. 15). Producing digital videos also develops critical technology skills. According to Czarnecki (2009), “These skills are useful to children, who need them for an increasingly technology-oriented future job market, and adults, who need them to keep up with a changing world” (p. 15).

With the right assignment, WeVideo can help teachers access all four of the Four C's of 21st Century Education.

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WeVideo Logo

Explore the WeVideo Interface

WeVideo is a powerful, collaborative online video editing tool you and your students can use to express their creativity. This online tool has the ability to help students practice all Four C's by collaborating on a video project within a small group, communicating with the members of the group as they execute their vision, thinking critically how the group might show mastery of your assignment, and thinking creatively to produce a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

​Use the Thinglink below to explore the WeVideo user interface. Really the best way to learn how to use WeVideo is by playing around with the controls and features and by clicking on buttons to see what they do. Don't worry, it won't break! If more assistance with WeVideo is required, check out the WeVideo-produced tutorials here.

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WeVideo user interface tutorial via Thinglink. Open this thinglink in a new window.

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WeVideo Assignments

Teachers who want to integrate WeVideo and group assignments into their curriculum should ensure that the students in each group know the assignment expectations. Video production teacher Chris Justus says, "the biggest opportunity for student misbehavior during a filmmaking assignment is students not knowing what exactly is expected of them. If teachers use an organizer to help students understand their roles and what is expected of them, there will be fewers chances for students to misbehave."

​The following Google Docs are templates teachers can use to help students know what is expected of them as they plan and organize WeVideo assignments.

Screen shot of the Filmmaker's Planning Guide

Filmmaker's Planning Guide

One of the things students new to video production always do is gravitate to the fun stuff! They start shooting raw footage, usually without a plan, upload it into WeVideo, and start adding visual effects and music without really thinking about the overall film they have envisioned. The reality is that video production requires a lot of planning and organization before any footage is shot, let alone digital manipulated.

Set your students up for success by giving them the process they can use to create their final edit. This process is outlined on the Filmmaker's Planning Guide.

• Click on USE TEMPLATE to add the Filmmaker's Planning Guide to your Drive

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Screen shot of the Public Service Announcement Assignment

Public Service Announcement Assignment

Public Service Announcement (PSA) assignments are a popular method to assess what students learned from a unit while also creating awareness for a specific topic.

This template outlines the process students will use as they brainstorm an idea, shoot their script, and edit their short film. The instructions are customizable, so be sure to go through the document before you give it out to students.

Do your students need a little inspiration before they create their PSA? Over 60 different topics suitable for a powerful PSA are listed on the second page of this template.

• Click on USE TEMPLATE to add the Public Service Announcement Assignment to your Drive

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Nonfiction Script Template

​The Nonfiction Script Template is perfect for assignments that ask students to create documentary-style films that include voice-over, interviews, and b-roll.

The first section of the template includes areas for student roles like producer, camera operator, etc. These roles can be edited to fit the purpose and objectives of the assignment.

The second section of the template is for planning out shots, interviews, and voice-over scripts. The secret to creating professional documentary-style films is b-roll. B-roll is the cutaway footage students use to tell the story and to make the film more interesting. For example, if an interview subject is talking on camera about the local park, it would be a good idea to show the local park they are talking about.

The structure of the documentary-style film follows a formula and is broken up into five parts, outlined below:

1. The first segment of the film introduces the idea through a combination of voice-over and b-roll.
2. The second segment introduces the interview subject. Additional b-roll is needed to cutaway to in the section.
3. The third segment further explains details about the story through voice-over and b-roll.
4. The fourth segment allows the interview subject to continue to tell the story. B-roll can be used here, too.
5. The fifth segment is the denouement and ties up all the pieces of the story through voice-over and b-roll.

Add the template to your Drive with the link below then watch a student-produced video that uses the structure featured in the template.

• ​Click on USE TEMPLATE to add the Nonfiction Script Template to your Drive