Lights, cameras, pencils! Using descriptive video to enhance writing!

This article Demonstrates the uses of descriptive videos in the classroom to improve literacy skills. Descriptive videos are originally created for those with visual impairments, can be used by teachers to introduce students to content area vocabulary and foster comprehension. Descriptive videos identify key vocabulary words that normally are not introduced in the video, and offer students a rich description of the setting and actions taking place. Students take this description information presented and transfer it into their writing. This technique can be used with students of all ages and ability levels.

I would love to teach middle school science and I think that this technique would be very helpful. Using a video will motivate middle school students and the descriptive feature would introduce students to vocabulary words in context.  Using vocabulary words introduced by the description, students can write about what they watched and have accurate and precise terminology.

Citation for this article:

Hoffner, H., Baker, E. & Quinn, K.B. (2008). Lights, cameras, pencils! Using 
     descriptive video to enhance writing Reading Teacher, 61(7), 576-579.