AWARENESS OF SOCIETAL CONCERNS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATIONS

This educational, project based exercise allows students to become agents of change through motivational learning, understanding the spirit and excitement of discovery, by expressing what they see around them in multimedia presentations, and finally creating in these presentations the world they would like to see around them.

Fostering a partnership between the students and the teachers to learn from each other. The aim is to incorporate this project into the school's curriculum as a means of teaching computer skills.

The pioneering effort was by Kundan Vidya Mandir Higher Secondry School, Ludhiana, and the first North India Multimedia Presentations Contest was also organized by them on August 28, 2001.

Who can participate in this learning game and competition

All schools are encouraged to participate. Schools will need a computer laboratory with

Microsoft Powerpoint 97 (or later versions) OR
Macromedia Flash
Sound recording system
Color scanner

You can include

Images, pictures, data, text from any source worldwide (you must reference source)
Narration, live interviews conducted by you, sound bites, music
Movie clips taken personally by you to illustrate your point
Animation you have developed

You may NOT

Take the help of any professional or semi-professional computer, advertising, or multimedia agency/company
Work in teams of more than 3 students for integration of material into multimedia presentation
Incorporate complete or partial sections of material produced by others.

The presentation should be complete and self-playing (use timing to advance the slides i.e. do not leave the advancing of slides as a manual process)

Why Choose Societal Issues as Projects

These issues are visual and can therefore be communicated effectively
They are there for all to see and experience in daily life

Kids and adults alike have direct experience

Kids and adults have direct daily exposure

Kids and adults are susceptible and need to develop health behaviors early in life

Kids are our great hope for creating an equitable, just and peaceful world

Objectives

Awareness and sensitization to common societal issues
Awareness of vulnerabilities
Learning to do research and not just memorizing
Learning through exploration and discovery
Learning team spirit, dynamics, cooperation, and collaboration
Learning negotiating and communication skills within small teams
Learning how to motivate people to change behavior
Understanding how huge profit advantage creates organizations that promote harmful activities

Learning to conceive, plan, develop, implement and manage projects in a timely manner

Learning how from data we arrive at information, which leads to knowledge, which results in practical applications, and why this process should be evaluated for usefulness.

Developing and Promoting Essential Qualities for Lifelong Success (life-skills)

Self-respect
Self-confidence
Self-esteem
Positive Attitude
Honesty
Lifelong joy of learning through exploration and discovery

Methodology and Guidelines

Projects should be contemporary and relevant
Teachers and facilitators should provide ideas not details
Allow students to learn to explore and to do research. Do not constrain them with your thoughts.
Learning should always remain fun and innovative
Encourage students to involve parents and community in projects
Teams of not more than 2-3 students
No professional or outside of team help in integration and development
Developing the process of allocating and organizing time for the project

Conceptualization and planning
Gathering information
Integration and testing
Developing the final presentation

Suggested Model Projects

Addictions:

Alcohol
Smoking and chewing tobacco/zarda
Narcotics and Drugs

Pollution:

Air
Land Surface
Water (including shortage)

Environmental protections

Bio-degradation
Loss of biodiversity

Empowerment and the role of women in India
Income generation schemes for rural and poor women
Population growth, control, stabilization
Why is government necessary and what is good government
Our rights and duties as good citizens
Corruption is a vicious cycle
Our primary health care system
HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases
Hunger and Poverty
Life and problems faced by a slum dweller
The burden of old age and caring for the elderly

A suggested three month timeline for creating the project

First three weeks: Conceptualization and developing the ouline
Second three weeks: Collecting the material
Third three weeks: Integrating the material
Last three weeks: Refining the presentation, adding sound and music, testing for effect

Learning how to Evaluate the Project and Incorporate Feedback

Documentation of the process and methodology
Regular review and evaluation of material for impact and effectivness
Evaluation of potential for mass dissemination
Periodic upgrade of presentation based on feedback and impact

Rajan Gupta