This graphic shows how the skills needed to produce high standard are progressively developed from step one through to progression step five. Use this when planning activities to ensure that progression in skills and the appropriate level of challenge are central to any task.

🖨️

🎥 Film Making

Creating videos can be a fun and creative way to enhance the learning experience for pupils. It offers opportunities in all areas of learning and experience for pupils to use their creativity and imagination to bring any subject alive. Videos can range from being instructional and informative to being fictional and cinematic. They can be as short or as long as needed and are usually aimed at a specific audience. Pupils who have good video production skills may wish to pursue a career in the creative media industry, in roles such as a script writer, sound technician, camera operator, editor, director or producer. There are strong links between video production and literacy, as videos often contain some type of dialogue or narration.

⭐ PLAN AHEAD!

Make sure you have a clear plan for what you want to capture and how you want to capture it. This will save time and ensure that you get the footage you need.

⭐ ANGLE AND SHOTS!

Experiment with different angles and shots to add variety and interest to your video. Use close-ups, wide shots, and different camera angles to capture different perspectives.

⭐ HAVE FUN AND BE CREATIVE!

Video production is a fun and creative process. Don't be afraid to experiment and try new things, and always have fun with the process.

⭐ USE A TRIPOD OR STAND!

A shaky camera can be distracting and unprofessional. Use a tripod or stabilizer to keep your shots steady.

⭐ GOOD AUDIO!

Good audio is just as important as good video. Use a quality microphone to capture clear sound, and consider using headphones to monitor the audio while filming.

Suggestions 🔎

Chatterpix

Adobe Express

Adobe Rush

Stop Motion Studio

Stickbot Studio

Green Screen by Do Ink

iMovie

Apple Clips

Adobe Premier Pro

Canva

Here are some applications and software that you can use to develop video production skills. These are a small selection - there are MANY more available. It is essential that you select the applications and software that is suitably matched to the learner's stage and that each learner experiences a range of these applications as they apply and develop their digital skills.

PS1 - Explore and record

What does good look like?

Learners at this stage will develop their storytelling abilities through using toys, drawings or by acting. They will consider simple traits of characters such as voice type and personality and will adjust their expressions accordingly. Learners will be able to record very basic videos using a mobile device simply by pushing record and stop. Learners will take part in videos that are produced by an adult and be aware of simple behaviours whilst being filmed such as being quiet until the recording has started, speaking clearly and looking at the camera whilst performing.

How about...

Film a nature documentary: Take a nature walk with the children and film footage of different plants and animals. The children can narrate the video and offer interesting facts and observations using apps such as Shadow Puppet, Clips or Adobe Spark Video.
Create a cooking show: Have the children choose a simple recipe and film themselves preparing it step-by-step using apps such as Shadow Puppet, Clips or Adobe Spark Video. They can explain each step as they go and offer tips and tricks for cooking

⭐ Skills ⭐

Storytelling

Act or re-tell a story using toys, drawings or images to support. Use expression and vary the use of voice for effect.

Characters

Discuss their favourite characters from films or programmes they have watched. Offer simple reasons for liking or disliking those characters.

Take part

Take part in a video production recorded by an adult. Play a role of a particular character or explain something, such as what you have been doing in a particular learning zone.

Tell a story or explain

Basic recordings - use the record and stop button on a mobile device to record basic videos.

PS2 - Increased Creativity

What does good look like?

Learners will be able to create basic productions at this stage. This would usually begin with a planning exercise with the aim of improving the standard of production. They will then evaluate their work to identify some basic improvements that could be made. Their productions start to show some consideration of elements that contributes to the quality, such as camera stability, lighting and camera angles. They are increasingly aware of the intended audience and offer basic ideas on how they will make them feel through the use of sounds and lighting.

How about...

Film a stop-motion animation: Have the children create a stop-motion animation using toys, clay, or other objects on apps such as Stop Animation or Stickbot Studio. This involves taking many pictures, each with the objects slightly moved or rearranged, and then playing them together in quick succession to create the illusion of movement.

Create a science experiment video: Conduct a science experiment, such as a volcano eruption, and film the process. The children can explain the science behind the experiment and what they learned from it.

⭐ Skills ⭐

Planning

Plan a simple video production by organising the content in a simple storyboard.

Create

Create videos with growing independence, organising various video clips in a timeline.

Quality

Become increasingly aware of factors that contribute to quality of their recordings, such as camera stability, lighting, audio quality and begin to experiment with different camera angles for effect.

Audience

Develop increasing level of audience awareness while planning and creating, using simple techniques such as sound effects, lighting or background music for effect.

Evaluation

Identify some key areas of improvement in production.

PS3 - Basic productions

What does good look like?

Learners can use a range of software to select, produce and edit a range of multimedia components e.g. animation, video, images together for a video production and enhance the outcome of the production for specific audience. They start to consider the advantage of working as part of a production team by playing a particular role within the team and is able to create online groups and share work between them to develop and review the digital content. They are able to explain the reasons of the layout and content and gain feedback from others to ensure the output is appropriate for specific purposes.

How about...

Create a short film with special effects: Have the children create a short film that includes special effects such as green screen, animation and sound effects. They can use video editing software such as iMovie or Adobe Rush to create a polished final product.

Create a sports analysis video: Have the children choose a favourite sport and create a video that analyses their peer's performance. They can use video clips and statistics to support their analysis.

⭐ Skills ⭐

Planning

Plan productions with some consideration of framing, camera angles, audience, sound, lighting and location.

Editing

Use basic editing skills in simple editing software such as iMovie or adobe express video, using transitions between clips and trimming clips to dispose of any unwanted content. Identify and use simple software tools such as sound effects, background music to enhance the production. Using collaboration features built in applications such as Adobe Express, students can work collaboratively on a video production.

Evaluation

Use feedback from wider audience to identify and suggest improvements to their productions.

Roles

With guidance from the teacher when producing a video in larger groups learners should be able to identify key roles in the production team, such as camera operator, director, editor etc. They are able to work together to feedback and improve the work.

Quality enhancement

Make informed decisions that will enhance the quality of the production, such as locations with limited background noise, well lit spaces etc.

Combine

Combine various methods for effect, such as green screen videos, edit images, audio clips, sound effect or animation etc. Learners start to consider how they will export and share their production with others and the file formats and methods of doing that e.g. MP4, HD upload to Hwb YouTube etc.

PS4 - Increasing complexity

What does good look like?

Learners will be able to plan their productions considering a more extensive range of camera angles and effective framing techniques. They will be able to work as part of a production team by playing a particular role within the team. When creating their production, they will make better decisions around locations and shot types to enhance the quality of their productions. They consider how they will safely store and backup their digital content from the start. They are aware of the advance tools that’s included within their chosen video editing package and use them to their full potential. After editing their production, they can showcase their work to wider audiences to gather feedback.

How about...

Use iMovie on Apple iPads to make very professional and high impact product but also allowing learners to develop their skills on using multiple digital devices for the right purpose.

Learners build on their skills and start to experiment with advance features of iMovie or use more advance solutions such as Adobe Rush to combine a range of multimedia and advanced features for their production.

You could challenge your learners by using Adobe Premiere Pro which is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud and licenses are available as a discounted price via your LEA and can be assigned via the Hwb User Management Dashboard. This application prepares the students with the more advanced tools that they would use with a industry standard video .

⭐ Skills ⭐

Planning

Plan detailed productions with consideration of framing, camera angles, audience, sound, lighting and location.

Editing

Use editing skills in editing software such as iMovie or Adobe Rush, using transitions between clips and trimming clips to dispose of any unwanted content. Identify and use software tools such as sound effects, background music to enhance the production.

Evaluation

They are independently able to share the video production in a appropriate way to get feedback from wider audience to identify and suggest improvements to their productions.

Roles

When producing a video in larger groups learners should be able to identify key roles in the production team, such as camera operator, director, editor etc.

Quality enhancement

Make informed decisions that will enhance the quality of the production, such as locations with limited background noise, well lit spaces etc.

Combine

Combine various advanced features and methods for effect, such as green screen videos, animation etc. Learners start to consider the format and quality of the finished product and how they will share it with their audience e.g. MP4, HD, Upload to their Hwb Youtube account.

PS5 - Perfecting the Production

What does good look like?

Learners will be able to plan their productions in detail building on previous learning and considering an extensive range of camera angles and effective framing techniques. They consider where they will collate their footage and the copyright or legislative impact of the content they acquire. They will be able to work as part of a production team by playing a particular role within the team. When creating their production, they will make independent decisions around locations and shot types to enhance the quality of their productions. They consider how they will safely store and backup their digital content from the start but also ensure the team can all collaborate their individual elements and collate together in the finished production. They are aware of the advance tools that’s included within their chosen video editing package and use them to their full potential incorporating other tools if suitable for the brief. After editing their production, they can showcase their work to wider audiences to gather critical feedback and make detailed and specific changes to the digital work upon the feedback.

How about...

Learners build on their skills and use more advance solutions such as Adobe Premier to combine a range of multimedia and advance features for their production.

They independently consider how to store, share and collaborate with other learners but also how to safely backup and store their work.

Adobe Premiere Pro which is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud and licenses are available as a discounted price via your LEA and can be assigned via the Hwb User Management Dashboard. This application prepares the students with the more advanced tools that they would use with a industry standard video .

⭐ Skills ⭐

Planning

Independently plan detailed productions with consideration of framing, camera angles, audience, sound, lighting and location.

Editing

Use advanced editing features and skills in editing software such as Adobe Premier, using transitions between clips and trimming clips to dispose of any unwanted content. Identify and use software tools such as sound effects, background music special effects and advance timing or transition techniques to enhance the production.

Evaluation

They are independently able to share the video production in a appropriate way to get feedback from wider audience to identify and suggest improvements to their productions.

Roles

When producing a video in larger groups learners should be able to identify key roles in the production team, such as camera operator, director, editor etc. They select appropriate tools to store, share and collaborate independently considering the safe storage and backups of footage.

Quality enhancement

Independently make informed decisions that will enhance the quality of the production, such as locations with limited background noise, well lit spaces etc.

Combine

Combine various advance features and methods for effect, such as green screen videos, animation etc. Learners start to consider the format and quality of the finished product and how they will share it with their audience e.g. MP4, HD, Upload to their Hwb Youtube account.