Teachers Make a Difference - 3

Last March Break six teachers and 13 students from across Nova Scotia participated in the NSTU/ViewFinders March Break PSA Camp, funded and supported by the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, from March 15 to 19, 2010. The aim of the Camp was to provide students with a full video-based curriculum with a focus on commercial marketing. Mentored by top Nova Scotia film industry professionals and facilitated by teachers, the students created three professional public service announcements (PSAs) for the NSTU with the theme "Teachers Make a Difference."

The participating teachers—Catherine McCarthy, Millwood High School,
Johanne McInnis, Aldershot School, Kentville, Ryan Sadler, Musquodoboit Rural High School, Duncan Smith, St. Andrew Junior School, Antigonish, Penny Steele, Malcolm Munroe Junior High, Sydney, and Jay Thompson, Brookside Junior High School—volunteered their time and expertise over the March Break to facilitate the work of the students. Three local filmmakers— Eva Madden-Hagen, Scott Simpson, and Jeff Wheaton—provided a completely hands-on experience for the students, guiding them through the process of visualizing an idea, setting up storyboards, setting up scenes, engaging actors, running rehearsals, and eventually shooting an end product.

The participating students were: Cameron Hennigar, Hants North Rural High; Shawn LePage, Millwood High; Brandon Gover, Sackville High; Hannah MacDougall, Brookside Junior High; Alec Cook, Sackville High; Devon Pennick-Reilly, Cornwallis Junior High; Bonita Leblanc, Ecole du Carrefour; Josh McInnis and Sarah Smith, Horton High School; Samantha Martin and Robyn Morris, Halifax West High; Daniel Crane, Hants East Rural High and Ben Sutherland, Sackville Junior High.

The PSAs produced by the students were premiered on April 22 during the ViewFinders International Film Festival for Youth, Communities in Motion series. The PSAs were also at NSTU's annual Communications Conference on April 24 and during Annual Council in May. The three PSAs were edited into 30-second commercials, and are being broadcast on CBC, CTV, Global Television and the Eastlink listings station during the month of September 2010.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• learning
• fun
• ad
• education
• nova
• scotia
• teachers
• union
• student
• teacher
• difference