NewsMaker is a project-based language arts tool for Elementary through High School
As a newscaster, reporter and producer students engage in literacy and critical thinking skills while navigating through the steps in NewsMaker. Students make choices on each segment on type of content, segment lengths, segment types, collaboration tools, special effects, and so much more, to create their final product in video format.
The end-result is a NewsMaker video newscast and the content and assignments dictate the curriculum area or skill type reinforced within each segment.
School can create their own channels, either public or private, for easy posting of student videos to share with classmates, parents and others.
90% saying Communication Skills are most important for children to get ahead in the world today - February 19, 2015 Pew Research Center
NEWSMAKER A tool to practice communication and language skills
NewsMaker provides students an easy, affordable, and fun platform to practice language skills Writing and Reading, Speaking and Listening, Representing and Viewing.
NewsMaker Project
A NewsMaker is made up of segments. Each segment can be of the following types:
Webcam Recording, Voiceover Image, Voiceover Video, Trailer, Text Insert and Video Insert.
NewsMaker supports remote communication, allowing students around the world to collaborate with one another easily.
Webcam Recording
Face Tracking Effects (Virtual glasses, hats, hair, etc)
Subtitles
Background graphics
Labels
Text Credits
Background music
Background graphics
Lables
Trailer
Trailer selectin
Voiceover video/images
Face Tracking Effects
Subtitles
Background graphics
Labels
| A tool to practice language skills NewsMaker provides students an easy, affordable, and fun platform to practice language skills Writing and Reading, Speaking and Listening, Representing and Viewing. |
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| Use across curriculum NewsMaker is neither grade-level specific nor content-area specific. It is a tool to help students improve their communication skills while mastering content in any subject area. |
| Create for a real audience With NewsMaker, students take on the role of news anchor and producer, creating their own story for a real audience. |
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| Self Assessment and Self Learning With the help of rubrics, NewsMaker provides individual student with immediate feedback for self-assessment of performance and it also facilitates peer critiquing, especially in the area of oral skills. |
| Portfolio Students can upload and share their published videos on this website, and at the same time, they are creating a portfolio of their works over time. Teachers can conveniently access and assess students videos anytime, anywhere. |
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Sample Project Structure.
Here is an example of how you may create a Book Review project:
| Start off your video with a Book Review trailer. | |
| Introduce yourself and what you are presenting. Take a photo of the book cover and include it in your video. | |
| Find some pictures of the book and make them into a slideshow. Provide your narration over the slideshow. | |
| Give a conclusion. | |
| End your video by acknowledging the contributors and the sources of the resources used. |
Installing NewsMaker
Available on Windows 7, Windows 8 and iOS (for iPad). Visit our Download page to download and install NewsMaker.