A Brief Introduction to Teaching with Video
by Neil MacQueen, Sunday Software

1. Appreciate the Power of this Medium

You'd think that would go without saying, but a lot of folks think "showing videos" is somehow a "low form" of education akin to babysitting. These same folks probably don't own a TV, VCR, or ever go to movies or plays, and have had their eyes removed because "seeing" something doesn't make much of an impact on them. (whoops)

Don't underestimate the power of visually presented materials. The brain is built to soak them up. The kids are not "just sitting there doing nothing." The question is not SHOULD we use video, but HOW we can BEST use them! Visually presented content has a long history of capturing the human imagination. Videos are truly a multi-sensory media that speaks to our ears, eyes, heartbeat, sweat glands, muscles, and emotions. Do not pick volunteers to show videos thinking "all they have to do is turn on the videotape."

2. Create the Viewing Space

Churches are bringing in cushions, popcorn, even theater seats if you can dedicate a room. We pay attention better when our physical and emotional needs are taken care of.

3. Pick the Video --

Well that seems pretty obvious. But it is amazing how often folks pick lousy videos, or age inappropriate videos.

Is it Age Appropriate?

a. Language: Is it NRSV, paraphrase, KJV? Below the third grade complexity of language matters!. 3rd grade on up can sense meaning from context and onscreen emotion/acting even if they don't exactly understand vocabulary. Older children do surprisingly well with HEARING King James English. Read my suggestions below on discussing vocabulary with kids before showing the video.

b. Violence and sexual content issues: The answer here may simply be a fast forward button and knowledge of what to skip.

c. Theologically and culturally correct, gender roles, etc. Theology is usually only a problem when you get non-biblical video content. Cultural and gender problems usually occur only in older videos. Newer videos tend to be more sensitive to these issues (such as portraying "the jews"). d. Adaptations and Artistic License: Some videos take license with stories. Compare visual content with actual scripture content. Sometimes these differences are terrific discussion points. Children can follow along with their Bibles, or read them ahead of time and then note when something in the visual is different. It makes watching something of a game.

The best way I know to pick a video is to PREVIEW THEM. Even good videos sometimes need the fast-forward applied to them. The dumbest mistakes I've ever made with videos was when I didn't preview them enough, or was in a hurry.

What about Veggie Tales and puppet show-like Christian videos?

I like Veggie Tales, they teach good values. But are they good for teaching Bible stories? They are intentionally designed for a secular audience and designed to present "biblical values" not the Bible story itself. In fact, they skim the Bible story. After watching a Veggie Tale video, younger children may not even know it was a Bible video. I also seriously wonder if young children makes the connection between a large Pickle and the Bible character that pickle is vaguely portraying. I also have to wonder how taking the humans out of the stories hurts the impact of the story (just like me). If you're using Veggie Tales, make an effort to also use the BIBLE story too.

There are many puppet-show, sing-a-long, tv show like videos on the market. Most are aimed at teaching biblical values and some show the Bible story as well. Be aware, however, that these types of "tv show" style videos often come with a strong theological flavor that might not suit your tastes.

4. Decide which part to use--

I rarely use every part of a video, short ones included. But often I'll use some parts TWICE in the same lesson. Knowing what to show, what not to show, and what to show again are a big part of teaching with videos. Yet many volunteer teachers just "let it run." Consider using comparing two or more videos. This is easy to do if you have several Jesus videos available.

*Write an outline. Note pause points, places to comment, places to watch twice.Mark which part not to use both by counter and description
*Create a set of "talking points" and Key Questions to pose.

5. Open the lesson WITHOUT the Video--

This seems obvious too, except I've seen many teachers start up the class by turning off the lights and announcing "the title of today's video." A good teacher prepares their students for what they are going to learn, what to look for, and what to focus on.

-Has anybody ever seen, done, been to, had this happen to them?
-Does anybody know the story of...
-Check out the Bible verse in the Bible itself

6. Set up the Video for the Kids--

What the story is going to teach is...
What to look for
Who's who in the story
Vocabulary and Concepts they'll hear. Write and define them on the board.

Write Key Question to Consider on the board for all to see? For pre-readers: draw the concept/question in a pictogram.

7. Show the Video

My Two Most Important "SHOWING TIPS:
1. Use the PAUSE button. It's your most powerful "video" teaching tool.
2. Don't be afraid to view an important scene a second time. Kids (and adults) watch movies over and over all the time.

Other Good Tips:
Look for new things each time. Point out facial expressions, reactions, things happening in the background.

Many video productions have introductory material to ease you into the story. Don't cut these out.

When using only a segment of an entire video, start viewing BEFORE essential content appears to allow the students to get ready.

Use FAST-Play to speed through sections while still being able to see the video onscreen.

8. Debrief & Process the Video

What did you see? (What do we need to see again?) ....Write down an outline of what they saw. ...Ask them to fill in the blanks.
Did anyone notice __________?
What was the reaction of _________to _____________?
How did ________feel? React? What did ______ say in response?
What would have been YOUR response? Feeling?

Most Dramatic presentations are calculated to create a feeling and reaction in the audience to characters and situations. Move beyond fact-finding in your questions. Put the students in the drama and ask how they would have felt when certain things happened. The class time only becomes a true "lesson" when you move from information to transformation.

Techniques for turning the audience into a class...
¢ Get them physically out of their chairs/cushions to start facing/dealing with each other. Have groups outline what they saw. See which one comes up with the most complete version
¢ Creative writing
¢ Storyboarding
¢ Art projects
¢ Role-playing : Display the picture with no sound -- Allow students to narrate. Let some provide crowd noises (this will be really fun --and again, help them remember). Play the sound with no picture -- have the students "block" the action as the characters. Play the picture with no sound and lip sync

¢ Recreate the video content in a modern version for today. At the school playground... In your neighborhood.... Make their own Video re-creations

9. Conclude the lesson

Re-show a key section.
That's the Ticket! --create a construction paper ticket where the key verse/concept and desired "do now in your life" is listed:
"Now Showing:" "Coming Soon ...in your life" "Cost: $" "Time to do it: __" "Rated R for _____"

IMPORTANT NOTE:
When the Video Workshop was first conceived in the Rotation Model, it was known as the Audio Visual Workshop. This was intentional. We didn't believe that the only thing we should do in there was show videos. We created media using video cameras, still photos, transparencies, and lots of other time-tested AV techniques (many of which we culled from the church's ancient CE library). It is quite possible that the videotape/dvd portion of your lesson might only last 10 or 15 minutes. Kids can spend the entire class creating their own AVs, or creating an AV in response to what they have seen.

10. My Three Most Important Equipment Tips:

1. If you are still using VHS tapes, use a 4-head VCR --it will give you a clearer picture when you hit the pause button.
2. Buy a good set of large amplified Computer Speakers to plug into your DVD player or VCR. Then, go to RadioShack and ask them for a plug that converts the computer speaker plug into an RCA-type plug so that you can connect your DVD/VCR's AUDIO OUT to the computer speakers for GREAT sound.
3. Keep the remote locked up with the VCR when not in use.

11. Copyright Issues

"Fair Use," "Public Performance" vs "Teaching Situation"-- Using Blockbuster videos

In general, it is perfectly legal to use ANY videotape in a "face to face teaching situation." This phrase and allowance comes directly from the Federal Copyright Law. There are some misinformed people and videotape companies who haven't bother to read the specific EXCLUSIONS provided by law. "Face to Face teaching situation" is one of them. PUBLIC PERFORMANCE of a videotape (such as at a lock-in) IS prohibited. Teaching use is protected use. You can also legally make compilations of videos your OWN, ie, edit what you own to a second tape for TEACHING purposes. The National Council of Churches website supports this opinion, as do the websites of Stanford, Cornell and other colleges. Blockbuster and the Motion Picture industry doesn't bother to let churches know the difference between "teaching" and "public performance."

12. Notes on Room Set-up and Projection Equipment

These days a 27" TV is minimum for a group of 5 or more. Place it at eye level, not on a tall cart. Drap the cart. If you're putting together a special place, consider an LCD projector that hooks up to your VCR or DVD player and can make the video appear up to about 5 feet high on the wall. Time was when video projectors and "lcd-data" projectors (the kind you see hooked up to computers) were two distinct kinds of projection equipment. Nowadays, however, the two have merged into one kind of machine. A small portable new LCD-data-video projector will cost between $800 and $1200. Please note this is a July 2006 price. Check Ebay on the internet for great prices on older used video-only projection equipment, and used video/data projectors. For groups smaller than 20 kids, a used projector with 800 "lumens" of projection power is sufficient -but nothing less. If you're buying new, you can get 1000-1200 lumen projectors for a very reasonable price and they cast a brighter and larger picture. More expensive projectors are available for large groups, or for locations where there is a lot of light coming in (such as a sanctuary).

Video Resources:

I have a page listing all my favorite videos at http://www.sundaysoftware.com/videos

For more in-depth discussion and more video discussion ideas, read the book "Video, Kids and Christian Education" by Russell Dalton, Augsburg Fortress.

This document was written by Neil MacQueen and posted at www.sundaysoftware.com. Permission granted to use it and/or reproduce it for local non-profit teaching uses only. Copyright 2002, 2006, Neil MacQueen. Neil MacQueen is a Christian educator, Presbyterian minister and founder of Sunday School Software. Contact Neil at sundaysoft@ee.net