The Director in the Classroom ~ NEW ZEALAND

Making movies helps students learn lessons
24 March 2004

Mahoe School is turning everyday learning into Hollywood-style experiences with a digital film-making project running until the end of the year.

In a collaborative effort with Canadian film-maker Nikos Theodosakis, via email, the 25 primary pupils at the school are using digital video and still cameras to document their learning experiences.

They will share them with other Taranaki schools in a initiative based around information communication technology.

Principal Wendy Sheridan, one of two teachers at the school, said the amount of material and film styles already covered was extensive. "They have done music videos, made movies putting poetry to imagery, and explained brain processes through film," she said. She said research showed that children presenting work through digital storytelling had a much better understanding of the content.

The project, which would carry through to the end of the school year, aimed to make the students better storytellers and give them a voice, she said.

Shown above: Mahoe teachers~Wendy, Elise & Sharron

Mahoe School Press Release (March 2005):

Mahoe School is proud to announce a collaborative project with Nikos Theodosakis, author of “The Director in the Classroom - How Filmmaking Inspires Learning”. This project will see Mahoe School (situated to the west of Stratford, New Zealand) and Nikos (of Penticton, British Columbia, Canada) work together online to create an accreditation programme for Action!Schools which will make Mahoe School thefirst Action!School in the world. Read the rest....

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RESOURCES & FUNDING:

"Making Movies Unit Plan from the New Zealand Ministry of Education - English online site."

Website for MovieFest - a New Zealand competition for student and amateur filmmakers. "The aim of MovieFest 2004 is to encourage the amateur movie makers of New Zealand, and to promote and showcase the talent New Zealand has to offer."

Apple's New Zealand Education Site

www.filmarchive.org.nz
This site is great for researching NZ film footage and history.  The film archive has a loans programme for schools to borrow its resources.  It also has an education programme for primary and secondary schools to use its resources to learn more about film making, techniques and ideas.
 
www.nzfilm.co.nz
The NZ Film Commission showcases the films that the Commission has funded, providing a good insight into the variety of films and ideas that have come out of NZ.  It has a section on applying for film funding, which gives a realistic overview of the process.
 
www.creativenz.govt.nz
Creative NZ is about inspiring Art in New Zealand.  The site outlines the role of the organisation as well as providing links and information to funding and resources.
 
www.filmnz.com
The site gives a great overview of the film industry in NZ and the different organisations that are associated with film.
 
www.artscalendar.co.nz
Choose a date or your region and find out what art exhibitions or movies are playing in your area.  A great site to keep up to date with NZ art and culture, as well as a way of finding out more about what is going on in your community.
 
www.zeroland.co.nz/funding.html
Another site to find out about culture and events in and around NZ.

www.zeroland.co.nz/film_movies.html#film
A great place to start to look for ideas for research about film, in NZ and around the world.
 
www.taranakifest.org.nz
A site for Mahoe school to watch as it develops closer to the festival date.
 
www.taurangafestival.co.nz
A site for Selwyn Ridge to watch as the festival comes together.
 
 
The Cultural Preservation Topic
Although I imagine you are already aware of some great NZ culture sites and resources, here are a few for quick reference that have some great project ideas or resources.
 
www.culture.co.nz
Great links to Maori sites.
 
www.maori.org.nz
Topics of maori culture illustrated and explained.  A good starting place for exploring topics further.
 
www.tepapa.govt.nz
A fantastic site of NZ's National Museum, with great learning programmes for students and teachers.
 
www.treatyofwaitangi.govt.nz
A State Services Commission website on the Treaty with many links to other useful organisations and sites.