The cost purchasing 6 digital cameras and animation kits and supplies is $1375, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
I teach computers and technology at an elementary school in Brooklyn in which there is good administrative support for technology integration and a schoolwide emphasis on enrichment projects. I am interested in the integration of art and technology via the facilitation of the creation of animated short films in a variety of formats (PSA's, curriculum specific animation, personal expression, propaganda techniques, etc.) during the weekly school enrichment period as well as for after-school projects.
I expect that the uniqueness of such a project, the familiarity/comfort students have with animation as an expressive medium, and the general hands-on nature of the animation will allow some visually or process oriented students to engage more effectively with whatever content is taught via the medium, particularly reflective/ expressive work and expository work. In order to setup animation stations, I require 6 firewire web-cams that will connect to apple ibooks we will have at school. The images from the webcams will be captured frame by frame to the ibooks via software and compiled to create short films.
I foresee up to 18 students working on simultaneous group and independent projects and possibly a much larger number as they cycle throughout the year. I would hope to hold a “Film Festival” at the end of the year so as to share the work with family and the community. As an animator/ filmmaker myself, I find the work to be meditative and extremely reflective on both technical and intellectual levels. Ideally it will help students to develeop stamina and focus.
Further, a film, no matter how short, is a beautiful product to take-away and show off with pride to family and friends, and I believe it will allow yet another avenue into the authentic exploration of academic material via illustration and performance. Further, it is a unique way to merge art and academics.
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