The document describes a pilot program that used storyboarding and movie making to engage disengaged students and improve their English language skills. Students worked in groups to write scripts, create storyboards, film short movies, and learn video editing. The project aimed to raise student achievement through creative lessons taught over several sessions. It concluded with a screening of the student-made films and resulted in students gaining confidence in English and teachers exploring new technology-driven approaches.

1. Using Storyboards & Movie Making
to Develop Writing Skills
St Anthony’s Canossian
Secondary School
Paviter Singh
Masters Candidate, HGSE
paviter@gmail.com
1

2. The Context
Students
Disengaged
Performing below grade level
Experienced Teachers
Blaming students for poor grades
Did not see the bene t of using technology
Novice Teachers
Willing to try new approaches but did not
have appropriate guidance
School
Interested in raising student achievement
Hoped to get teachers to improve approaches
to instruction / teaching
2

3. The Objective
Students
Raise student engagement
Improve con dence and familiarity with spoken
and written English
Learn skills of listening, speaking, reading &
writing in a creative and innovative way
Teachers
Demonstrate effective infusion of technology in
learning
Create a community where teachers and
students can learn from each other
School
Initiate a pilot program with the hope of
expansion to the entire grade level
Whole school approach
3

4. The Resources
Hardware
16 computers (2 for each group)
8 video cameras (1 for each group)
Software
Movie Making application
Time
7 training sessions of between 4 to 5 hrs
1 to 2 weeks for students to lm
Finale where completed work is presented
Facilitators
Technical Instructors (Sinema Old School)
4 teachers
8 college students (one for each group)
4

5. The Project
Student Outcomes
Have fun & be engaged
Develop greater con dence in English
speaking and writing
Develop skills in a variety of technology
tools
Teacher Outcomes
Learn how different technology tools
can be used in learning English
Realize that there are different
approaches to teaching English that do
not involve the textbook
Change culture/mindset with respect to
English and how it is taught
5

6. The Project
The Proposal
Get students to work in groups to
create short movie clips
Story boarding, script writing and
movie editing will give students
the opportunity to practice and
improve their language skills
Students to create a blog and post
an entry after each training session
Lesson materials and
communication regarding the
project to be done online
(website/email)
6

7. The Curriculum
Session 1: Finding a Story to Tell 1
Students watch clips from various
short lms and discuss
Character and character
development
Background and setting
What story to tell and how to go
about writing it
How to turn a story into a script
Work at home
Theme: A Social Issue
Write a short story on an issue
that you are passionate about
7

8. The Curriculum
Session 2: Finding a Story to Tell 2
Students to come to the session
having written a short story (to be
translated into a script)
Instructor shows/explains to
students what is a story board
(using an example from a popular
Singaporean Sit-com)
Students work to translate their
stories into storyboards (text,
sounds, pictures)
Discuss the difficulties faced
With this knowledge, how would
you select an appropriate story
8

9. The Curriculum
Session 3: Pre-Production 1
Students to form groups of 5. Each member
to take on a role such as director, producer,
sound tech, lighting tech, cast coordinator
Discuss in groups (with guidance):
Script: Breakdown and organize the
written script into different
components for preparation
Location Scouting: Finding locations /
negotiating for locations
Casting: Find talents / conduct an
audition
Schedule: Plan overall timeline / shoot
schedule
Budgeting: Plan and manage budget
9

10. The Curriculum
Session 4: Pre-Production 2
Understanding the rules of lm
making
What can and cannot be done
Using various equipment
Digital Camera
Video Camera
Lights
How to position cameras/lights for
maximum effect
10

11. The Curriculum
Session 5: Sounds for Film
Hands-on training on lming
& editing
Voice
Background noise
Sound effects
What groups should consider
when shooting their lms
11

12. The Curriculum
Guided Practicum (in
groups)
Groups to discuss and
work on their script /
story board
Groups to loan out
video cameras for 1-2
weeks to shoot their
lms
12

13. The Curriculum
Session 6: How to use Video Editing
Software
All groups to have completed
shooting by this stage
4 hour training session on how to
edit video
Groups to practice using their own
footage
Groups to arrange to use
computers for editing outside of
training hours (if required)
13

14. The Curriculum
Session 7: Critique
Exporting of nal
product to disc
Round table
re ection / critique
Groups prepare &
rehearse their 1
minute presentation
14

15. The Finale
Screening of Student Films
Each group was required to
introduce their lm
All teachers and parents of
students were invited to
attend
Speech by Sinema Director
and School Principal
Students given certi cates of
completion and souvenirs
(tote bags)
15

16. I’m not hungry
16

17. Phases
17

18. Outcomes
Student Participants
Pride and con dence
Serve as role models/student
facilitators
Better communication/
relationship with parents
Parents
Pride and surprise in the ability of
their children
Renewed support and
engagement in school activities
18

19. Outcomes
Teacher Facilitators
Mentors and ambassadors in the
use of technology among
colleagues
Inspired to explore yet new ways
to engage their students
Other Teachers
Surprised at what their students
are capable of
More willing to explore and learn
how to use technology in their
classrooms
19

20. Myths
You need to be an expert
You need lots of
expensive hardware
You need plenty of time
Its not worth the trouble
20

21. Using Storyboards & Movie Making to Develop Writing Skills
http://web.mac.com/paviter/Sinema/Home.html
St Anthony’s Canossian
Secondary School
Paviter Singh
Masters Candidate, HGSE
paviter@gmail.com
21