Profile: Chief Kanim Video Club: No Kidding Around (page 2)

When queried on the reason for integrating video so deeply into his school's agenda, Dockery is quick to point to the power of the medium. "To produce a video, students have to deal with higher-level thinking, problem solving and communication skills. When they are doing this for a real-life audience, with real-life deadlines and real-life funding on the line, it makes learning more fun, exciting and relevant. It makes it a real-life experience."

Dockery doesn't restrict the video to news broadcasts; he uses it in all the subjects he teaches. A math class just finished a series of animated films on the subject of fractions, and his health students are currently at work on an anti-tobacco video. Reading students make video books for kindergartners to use later in the Spring.

It's obvious there's a positive interest on the creative side of the video projects, but how do intended audiences respond to the programming? "Our productions get a mixed reception," says Dockery. "The students enjoy our sports-highlight videos and have come to rely on the morning broadcasts. But they can be as critical of the videos as any middle-school students can be. Our community is proud of the work we have been able to accomplish, and our district feels confident using the video club to produce projects that they will present to other school administrators around the country." One activity that has received many accolades is the video-ID program, produced in conjunction with a local Mason group. The program records video interviews of children in the community and fingerprints them in the event they ever become lost or kidnapped.

Funding, is one of the major roadblocks in Dockery's path. But his tenacity and loyalty to the project serves him well. "This is a volunteer position, and it seems like I am constantly filling out grant proposals, networking with other videographers and just simply asking people for their support." It appears that his work has its rewards. Dockery and his club have raised over $20,000 in equipment and training through assorted grants and donations. "As you know, this is only a drop in the bucket when you are buying video gear. But what it has allowed us to add has markedly improved our production values. Without the advice and help of a number of parents, local professionals and businesses, we could never have stretched our limited budget as far as we have." Allowed to fantasize about creating a "wish-list" of what his dream studio would be stocked with, Dockery laughingly says he'd only be satisfied when his room resembled the NBC studio visible in the background of national news broadcasts. "Seriously, though, I would like to have just enough equipment so that all of those kids who wished to could get their hands on the gear and start learning, because that is what this is really all about."

Looking to the future, Dockery plans on developing his present program to the point that it is able to serve his community's video-production needs. He firmly believes that, by working with businesses in the area, he'll be able to give students more real-life opportunities in contributing to their communities. "Any time we can get the students more integrated with the community, or, more specifically, make a positive impact on the community, I know we are working in the right direction. And with the enthusiasm expressed by both the students and the community, I can tell that the video program is definitely going to be a long-term wi…