Digital Booktalks - Movies for Literacy!

My Students

Do you remember reading the back of a book cover and not getting a good picture of what the book was about? Digital booktalks are a means for reluctant and striving readers (who have trouble visualizing what they are asked to read) make better choices in selecting books from reading lists.

A number of students come to my library without a sense of what they want to read?

They wonder through the shelves, touching books, uninspired to pick anything up. They often bring teacher created reading lists and just stare at the titles not being able to visualize what the books are about. On the flip side, there are students in my school who have just finished a great read. An English teacher this year is giving them the option (in lieu of a traditional book report) to create a digital booktalk where students re-enact the main storyline of a book they've read, using live video clips, pictures, music, voice-overs and other digital tools. As the librarian, I see digital booktalks as a tool to connect the students who are in need of a book (and could use a good recommendation) to those who know of a good read and want to tell someone about it.

My Project

The problem is that individual classrooms, as well as the library, do not have digital cameras and video recorders to lend to students. This means only the "haves" will be able to take advantage of this opportunity. As a librarian, I want to level the playing field and provide equal access to my "have-nots." Having a digital camera and a couple of flip cameras to check out will give "all" my students the option to choose digital booktalks as a response to literature. I have created a webpage off of my library website for digital booktalks. In addition to digital book trailers and booktalks from across the web, I will be posting the digital booktalks our students create for their English class on the site. This virtual space will be a place for student to visually connect with literature. The pre-visualization of digital booktalks will help my reluctant and striving readers understand the gist of the book's storyline, supplementing and enhancing their reading experience.

Camera equipment in the library will give "all" students the option to create digital booktalks enhancing my students' reading experience.

An added bonus is that the production process will provide an all important but often missing motivational element: relevance. Driven by their desire to create their own ‘mini-movies’, students will have a new reason to read. This project will not only impact the students in my school, but may impact many more through the library's digital booktalk website.