This is a project that was carried out at St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School in Singapore where students learned how to create movies with the intention of improving their Speaking and Writing skills (English)

1. Using Storyboards & Movie Making to
Develop Skills in Speaking & Writing
St Anthony’s Canossian
Secondary School
Paviter Singh
Masters Candidate, HGSE
paviter_singh@mail.harvard.edu
Monday, April 19, 2010

2. Espoused Theory
School
If we create an environment based on shared
understanding, shared accountability and shared
responsibility for the improvement of instructional practice
Teachers
If teachers share a common practice, re ect and make
improvements to it using a common language and
common observation protocol
Students
If we are able to transfer the agency of learning to students
If students have a sense of efficacy with regards to their
ability to learn
If students are able to apply what they learn in speaking
and writing to real life situations
Then students will attain high levels of achievement
Monday, April 19, 2010

3. Theory in Use
Students
Are disengaged, disinterested, unmotivated
Are performing below grade level
Experienced Teachers
Blame students for poor grades
Do not feel that there is a need to change/modify
their practice
Novice Teachers
Are willing to try new approaches but do not
have appropriate guidance / support
School
Wants raise student motivation and achievement
Wants to get teachers to improve their
instructional practice
Monday, April 19, 2010

4. Theory of Action
Students
If students are engaged in activities that they nd
important and meaningful
If students develop a greater sense of efficacy with
regards to speaking and writing in English
If students feel that they are in control of their own
learning
Then students will attain high levels of
achievement
Teachers
If teachers are trained and provided with the support
If teachers see the positive outcome of the pilot
project
Then teachers would have the knowledge, skills,
understanding and expertise to help students
attain high levels of achievement
Monday, April 19, 2010

5. The Project
Students would work in groups to create a short 5 min movie clip on a social
issue important to teenagers
Clari ed expectations of groups and group members
Each group had a teacher advisor and student facilitator
Completed movie clips would be screened at a local cinema
Writing Skills
Story boarding, script writing and movie editing
Students to create a blog and post an entry after each session
Speaking Skills
Acting, oral presentation of the synopsis to their movie
Transfer of Agency
All lesson material put online
http://web.mac.com/paviter/Sinema/Home.html
Monday, April 19, 2010

6. The Resources
Hardware
16 computers (2 for each group)
8 video cameras (1 for each group)
Software
Movie Making application
Time
7 training sessions of between 4 to 5 hrs
1 to 2 weeks for students to lm
Finale where completed work is presented
Facilitators
Technical Instructors (Sinema Old School)
4 teachers
8 college students (one for each group)
Monday, April 19, 2010

7. The Curriculum
Session 1: Finding a Story to Tell 1
Students watch clips from various
short lms and discuss
Character and character
development
Background and setting
What story to tell and how to go
about writing it
How to turn a story into a script
Work at home
Theme: A Social Issue
Write a short story on an issue
that you are passionate about
Monday, April 19, 2010

8. The Curriculum
Session 2: Finding a Story to Tell 2
Students to come to the session
having written a short story (to be
translated into a script)
Instructor shows/explains to
students what is a story board
(using an example from a popular
Singaporean Sit-com)
Students work to translate their
stories into storyboards (text,
sounds, pictures)
Discuss the difficulties faced
With this knowledge, how would
you select an appropriate story
Monday, April 19, 2010

9. The Curriculum
Session 3: Pre-Production 1
Students form groups of 5. Each member
takes on a role such as director, producer,
sound tech, lighting tech, cast coordinator
Discuss in groups (with guidance):
Script: Breakdown and organize the
written script into different
components for preparation
Location Scouting: Finding locations /
negotiating for locations
Casting: Find talents / conduct an
audition
Schedule: Plan overall timeline /
shoot schedule
Budgeting: Plan and manage budget
Monday, April 19, 2010

10. The Curriculum
Session 4: Pre-Production 2
Understanding the rules of lm making
What can and cannot be done
Hands-On Session on the use of various
equipment
Digital Camera
Video Camera
Lights
How to position cameras/lights for
maximum effect
Learning from expert camera men
and women responsible for shooting
famous local sitcoms!
Monday, April 19, 2010

11. The Curriculum
Session 5: Sounds for Film
Hands-on training on more
advanced features of lming &
editing
Voice
Background noise
Sound effects
How to pick the best space for
your scene
Monday, April 19, 2010

12. The Curriculum
Guided Practicum (in
groups)
Groups to discuss and
work on their script /
story board
Groups to loan out
video cameras for 1-2
weeks to shoot their
lms
Monday, April 19, 2010

13. The Curriculum
Session 6: How to use Video Editing
Software
All groups should have completed
shooting by this stage
4 hour training session on how to
edit video
Groups to practice using their own
footage
Groups to arrange to use
computers for editing outside of
training hours (if required)
Monday, April 19, 2010

14. The Curriculum
Session 7: Critique
Exporting of nal
product to disc
Round table re ection /
critique (plus delta)
Groups prepare &
rehearse their 1 minute
presentation
Monday, April 19, 2010

15. The Finale
Screening of Student Films
Each group required to introduce
their lm before it is screened
All teachers and parents of
students in attendance
Speech by Sinema Director and
School Principal
Students given certi cates of
completion and surprise gifts
(tote bags)
Films are also screened in school
to all other students at a later date
Monday, April 19, 2010

16. Outcomes
Student Participants
Pride and con dence
Writing and speaking are not as
difficult as they thought
Real improvement in academic results
& engagement in class
Better communication/relationship
with parents
Parents (unintended)
Pride and surprise in the ability of their
children
Renewed support and engagement in
school activities
Monday, April 19, 2010

17. Outcomes
Teacher Facilitators
Mentors and ambassadors to
other teachers
Inspired to explore yet new
ways to improve their practice
Other Teachers
Surprised at what their students
are capable of
More willing to re-look at their
practice and consider
suggestions for improvements
Monday, April 19, 2010

18. Moving Forward
School Level improvement
Teacher PD and support
Scalability across all
classes in that grade level
Review student
suggestions for
improvement
Monday, April 19, 2010

19. Using Storyboards & Movie Making to Develop Skills in Speaking & Writing
http://web.mac.com/paviter/Sinema/Home.html
St Anthony’s Canossian
Secondary School
Paviter Singh
Masters Candidate, HGSE
paviter_singh@mail.harvard.edu
Monday, April 19, 2010