Public School 187 Documentary Filmmaking Curriculum

This is a project-based documentary filmmaking curriculum focused on media justice and social change. This program was delivered in person to a fifth-grade class on a weekly basis over two semesters. 

• Responsibilites: Teaching, Curriculum Design, Video Editing

• Target Audience:  25 fifth grade students at a public school in New York

• Tools Used: Google Classroom, Canva, Premiere Pro, iMovie

• Location: Public School 187 

• Timeframe: September, 2023 - May, 2024

Background:

Teachers College, Columbia University offers the Zankel Fellowship to support its students in working with disadvantaged inner-city youth in New York. As a Zankel Fellow, I co-taught a fifth-grade class alongside another Master's student, focusing on Media Justice for Social Change. During the first few classes, we discovered that while students regularly engaged with media for learning and entertainment, they were largely unaware of their capacity to use media as a tool to voice their concerns and drive social change within their school community. 

Solution Summary:

We implemented a project-based learning curriculum focused on documentary filmmaking, where students spearheaded the creation of a documentary advocating for changes in their schoolyard. The project unfolds in three distinct phases:

1) Brainstorming phase: Students explored their identities and community issues through collages and zines, leading to a collective decision to use documentary as the medium and focus on redesigning the school courtyard. 

2) Preparation phase:  Students developed storyboards, assigned project roles, and conducted stakeholder interviews, emphasizing collaborative planning. They also captured B-roll footage and record reflective podcasts.

3) Production phase: Students applied content analysis to their collected interviews and podcasts, used iMovie and CapCut to edit and compile the final documentary, and created promotional posters. 

We also hosted debriefing sessions inviting students to reflect on their documentary filmmaking journey, enhancing a sense of belonging through storytelling, listening, and empathy. These discussions allow students to share challenges, skills gained, and insights on social justice.

Final Outcome:

• Students successfully created 1 documentary film, highlighting their insights into media justice and social change.

• Each student produced 2 digital collages, 2 podcasts, 1 zine, and 1 documentary poster, demonstrating diverse media skills.

• We developed a comprehensive set of 50-page presentation slides to facilitate and guide the project, ensuring a structured learning experience.