Giving Compass' Take:

• Educator Paul F. Brown describes a successful project-based learning tactic of having his students create their own short films. 

• How can donors support the expansion of project-based learning across districts? Why is it important to note the nuances of project-based learning?

• Read about how to succeed with project-based learning. 

The typically peaceful field behind our school seemed more like the backlot of a film studio that week, as groups of my students spread throughout the park to shoot scenes for their final projects—five-minute movies that they produced themselves.

These projects fell at the end of a semester-long study of filmmaking, during which students had built up a vocabulary of film terms and techniques based on class lectures, representative films, and hands-on photo and video projects.

For example, after learning about types of camera movement, students viewed film clips like the opening scene from Touch of Evil, a complex and continuous shot that combines crane, pan, tilt, dolly and tracking movements. Using their smartphones, students then went outside and captured video of seven different camera movements and later joined the clips together using a video-editing app.

Read the full article about project-based learning by Paul F. Brown at Getting Smart