Madison Reporter

Middle school students in the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) are gaining hands-on experience in video production through a specialized summer camp. The camp, named Discover the World of Video Production, aims to fill the educational gap for middle schoolers by offering them an opportunity to learn about videography. It is part of 23 summer Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs available thanks to new lab spaces funded by a 2020 referendum.

The camp takes place at East High School and consists of three four-day sessions, each running from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nancy Stillwell, the CTE teacher leading the class, explained that students engage with video cameras and learn about equipment like tripods and microphones. "Mostly, they're hands-on, working with video cameras," Stillwell said.

In addition to technical skills, students work on creative projects that help them understand cinematic storytelling elements such as story structure and camera techniques. On one occasion, students created silent films using a baby doll prop.

Stillwell emphasized the importance of enhancing students' existing skills. "What I really love is being able to help these kids elevate their skills because, you know, they're all shooting video on their phones almost every day," she remarked.

The camp also includes field trips to studios and locations like the zoo for activities such as video scavenger hunts. These experiences provide insights into professional videography settings.

Students expressed enthusiasm for learning new skills and exploring their interests in video production. Zara S., a participant, stated her excitement about improving her camera skills and editing knowledge. Madalitso W., another student, noted growing passion through participation in the camp.

Stillwell hopes that the program will inspire students to pursue further studies in high school-level video classes. Her goal is for students to explore fields they might not have considered otherwise.

“I think it would be fun to take more classes in high school,” Zara S. affirmed.

For Stillwell, utilizing summer time productively is essential: “You’ve got a whole chunk of time off in the summer, so why don't you spend four days learning a new skill?"