What is a Video Text
Video text adds an extra element to digital writing when creating a video text. In fact, in the book Argument in the Real-World: Teaching Adolescents to Read and Write Digital Texts, Turner and Hicks (2017) state that "crafting an argument and supporting it with features of digital video" (P. 84) shows how we can take a different approach when creating videos. There are many social media platforms where videos and pictures are a part of how we communicate. Hicks states, "Video texts of live events with real people of scripted, well-produced television shows, films, of hand-drawn, computer, or stop motion animation and many other forms may be the form of digital writing many of us need to learn to convey information in the twenty-first century (Hicks, 2013, P. 104).
Let's be honest. Technology has evolved so much that we can do so much, not only from our computers but even from our phones, which I call minicomputers. Hicks states, "From professionally produced movies and television shows to footage you and I capture with our mobile phones, literally thousands of hours of video texts are created, uploaded, and viewed every minute of the day (Hicks, 2013, P. 104).
For my graduate school class, we were asked to create a video to introduce ourselves to other classmates. We are now asked to revise and resubmit our video. This Technology link is my revised video, including video text features I did not use the first time.
What Makes a Video Text Engaging
Engaging in video text is like watching people's posts on social media platforms, especially on platforms like Instagram. Engaging video texts spark creativity and the opportunity to be unique. In my revised video, I made it more appealing to watch by adding headings, transitions, and music. My video was also more attractive because I chose to use colorful frames. After all, the more visuals we have, the better. Check out this video on how to use Canva to add pop-ups and images to your video!
(Alwood, 2020)
References
Alwood, C. (2020, October 21). Create pop-up text using CANVA as a green screen/video tip for new YouTubers. YouTube. https://youtu.be/o7wyitaXCzE?si=GLUIgLgHoaDbqdwA
Hicks, T. (2013). Crafting Digital Writing: Composing Texts Across Media and Genres. Heinemann.
Turner, K.H., Hicks, T. (2017). Teaching Adolescents to Read and Write Digital Texts: Argument in the Real World. Heinemann.
Hey Mena, I enjoyed learning more about you through your video. I also used Canva to create my video presentation. I really liked how your did your transitions in your video. You are right about how technology increasingly plays a larger roles in our lives. As teachers, we should be incorporating technology into our lessons to help our students gain the digital literacy skills that they are going to need in the future. In Crafting Video Texts, Hicks (2013) poses the question, "How do we invite our students to become both smart consumers of video texts and, as digital writers, smart producers of them as well?" (p.105). Teachers have to have a good understanding of crafting digital writing and stay current on new technology. Both of these things can be challenging but we owe it to our students to prepare them as well as we can for the future.
ReplyDeleteMena, I enjoyed your video introduction. The transitions and music made the introduction video very engaging. I also enjoyed learning about you, too. Using the Canva platform to create a video can indeed be an engaging and effective way to encourage students to apply what they know. Turner and Hicks (2017) stated that “introducing students and, quite often, teachers to the concept of composing video can sometimes be a daunting task” (p. 97). I agree that technology is evolving and the earlier students and teachers begin using technology in the classroom, the better. Providing people with the opportunity to play with video editing tasks in a low-stakes manner can be an excellent way to introduce them to more significant projects later on (Turner and Hicks, 2017, p. 97). The elements taught in the Canva video are so fun! Students would love inserting pop-up text in their video texts.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed watching your video! You did a great job creating it with Canva! Teaching our students use digital texts if an important twenty-first century school. Hicks (2013) states that, “video texts…may be the form of digital writing that many of us need to learn to convey information in the twenty-first century.” (p. 104) The editing process allows students to practicing analyzing and self assessing. As Sydnor and Davis (2020) explain, “Skillful facilitation of video reflection can support engagement in deeper analysis” (para. 16).
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