Here at the Center for 21st Century Skills, we love reaching out and working with new districts, and the annual Digital Learning Day provides us with an amazing opportunity to do so. Last February, we had so much fun exploring mobile apps, film making, and storytelling with Pre-K and elementary school students on the first-ever Digital Learning Day. We wanted to do something just as special for 2013.

Hannah B practices while Ethan sets up the shot

This year, our digital learning specialist Emily Wasley loaded up our mobile iPod touch lab and brought it to Mr. Wasley’s 8th grade Science classroom at King Phillip Middle School in West Hartford, Conn. The Mission: Storyboard, script, and film creative, informative, and scientifically accurate short films about energy transformations using iPod touches and the iMovie mobile app.

Developing a successful digital media project requires a lot of planning and preparation, so Mr. Wasley introduced the Emerald Team students to the challenge the week before DLD2013. Working in small groups, students in each class made storyboards for their short films and prepared props (toasters, puppets, coffee makers, stuffed animals, and ramen noodles, to name a few) and costumes (everything from a pair of sunglasses to a muscle suit!) for their projects. Although the planning took place in class and over the weekend, every film was shot and edited in one 45 minute period!

George and his team rehearse a scene

By the end of the school day, each class completed 5-6 short films ranging from 20 seconds to almost 5 minutes in length. From an incredible rap song to a new rendition of the Wizard of Oz, these KP 8th graders really brought their A-game to complete the challenge.

There were 29 films created over the course of the day (WOW!), so we chose one exemplar film from each period to showcase on our YouTube channel. Every group worked so hard to create a unique and creative film.

A special thank you to all of the students, to Mr. Wasley, and to King Phillip Middle School for helping us celebrate the importance of digital learning.

Enjoy the films!

Did you do try something new for Digital Learning Day 2013? Share your experience below, or tell us on our Facebook page!

Here are some of the top films:

Hannah B, Hannah M, Ethan, and Caroline:

Annie, Dan, Kevin C, and Haley:

Alex T, Kyle, Merrill, and Ameir:

Bryce, Hannah, Eva, and Sam: