Book TrailersBook Trailers

Uploaded Flickr on 04102007 by lynxhoney http://flickr.com/photos/queenmum/453365084/

RationaleRationaleThere are many students who seem disengaged at school. It has been said

that young people are not reading and won’t write anymore than they absolutely must.

Outside school, however, it is a different story. Studies have shown young people are reading and writing incessantly, updating their MySpace/facebook pages, keeping blogs and WebPages

In other words they are reading and writing but in different modes and media to the more traditional print literacies of the 20th century. Indeed the definition of literacy is evolving all the time. Literacy can no longer just encompass print-only works. In the 21st century literacy must include digital, hypertext, images and the plethora of communication media that make up the complex systems that bound in today’s world.

The complexity of messages in today’s world means that our students have to not only know how to “read” them but also know enough about them to be critical viewers, with the power to analyse and understand the obvious and more obscure meanings of the messages around them

Students are bringing multi-literacy skills to the classroom and teachers tap into their interests and skills and then enhance their students’ understanding of these various diverse texts. This will enable them to become skilled at critically viewing any of the diverse texts that is presented to them so that they can confidently use all the media around them to learn, clarify and communicate information rather than by passive users who can be coerced, confused and persuaded by the unscrupulous.

Some StatisticsSome Statistics73% or ¾ students on the internet watch or

download videos½ of the young internet users say they

watch YouTubeMany young people post videos to blogs and

even more forward on a link in an emailThey are socializing, researching, playing

games, getting news via technologies.In schools we need to look at innovative

ways to capture the interest and commitment of students to the understanding the deep-thinking and as the learning world because more and more immersive these initiatives are an important step.

Why Book Trailers?Why Book Trailers? Book trailers offer an alternative way to respond to

some reading/a book, ways that are creative but encourage critical thinking and analysis. Students can use• still or moving images,• special effects, • recorded soundtrack, • voiceovers and/or music, print text and • cutting/editing techniques to share their interpretations and critiques of what they have

read. Technology is not the goal. It is a means for students to

explore a variety of literacies and ways of communicating their response to their reading. Visual, aural, indeed many learning styles and modes can be used It can help reluctant readers and writers by offering them a chance to use methods that interest them and that make use of other strengths that they may have.

Finding book trailersFinding book trailersWhilst looking at the some publishers websites I

saw a few different book trailers. They were interesting but there was nothing there

that I believed our students were capable of creating some.

When I went looking specifically for book trailers I found many more. They were varied in their levels of skill, approaches to the books they were publicising and the reasons for their creation.

In the US they seemed to be encouraging all sorts of people to create trailers, the authors for their own books, readers of all levels and professional “film” people.

The trailers were shown by libraries, used by publishers and in schools. There are competitions run by publishers and others for the “best” books trailers.

ProcessProcess Choose a book Read the book Analyse the book - what

was good, unique, interesting, etc – list/brainstorm/mindmap

Write a first draft – impressions, feeling, important points

Create a storyboard Plan effects (transitions,

sound, colouring, etc) Review the plan – with

teachers, other students Create the trailer

Show the students some different examples of book trailers. Let them see/hear and critique them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEwCK_DJZXI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXxSn7NScww http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bVZQvy0vN8 http://www.youtube.com/user/PenguinYoungReade

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The ProductThe Product There can be an amazing

array of approaches. The product can be used

to entice other reader by playing it on electronic screens within the school/library.

The trailers can be out up on blogs, webpages, etc. and shared with others beyond the classroom/school so they are used by others not just a class assignment, never to be revisited.

An Assessment Rubric can be found at:

http://reading-active-and-engaging.wikispaces.com/Book+Trailers+-+Assessment+Rubric

ToolsTools The students used

Audacity (to put together sound), Ulead VideoStudio to create the video

Use Creative Commons sites to find licensed images and sounds/music.

Imageso Video cameras and other

digital cameras could be borrowed by the students to take the shots they needed.

Soundo Some music students at the

school were also happy to help create music and sound for the students doing the trailers.

Sites for:Images FlickrCC FlickrStorm Compfight FlickrLeech Wikimedia CommonsSound ccMixter (sound) The freesound project

(sound) Soundsnap (sound effects

and loops)

Some Points to NoteSome Points to Note

Have a hook for the audience. Get people interested in/excited

about the book. Grab their attention from the first

second Don’t have too much text Set the mood and convey the

“feeling” of the book Length is important. Not too long

or too short, just give a quick “taste” of the book.

Be mysterious Look at the concept behind the

story and don’t focus on the details of the book (the minutiae)

Music and sound is essential