KS builds a playground at Schools of the Future Conference

Front row L-R: KS Hawaiʻi students Tia Kamali'i, Jarvis Benito and Carlie Baclig. Back row: KSH teachers Nadar Shehata, Troy Souza, Hoʻolaukoa staff Simon Cordiing, Dorothy Hirata and Ben Leong.

Oct. 27, 2016

Contributed by Pakalani Bello

Partnering with the Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools (HAIS), PBS Hawaiʻi’s Hiki Nō and ʻŌlelo Community Television, members of Ho‘olaukoa, along with students and staff from KS Hawaiʻi, created a “Digital Media Playground” at the 2016 Schools of the Future (SOTF) Conference.

The playground was set up as way for educators to see a wide range of resources that can involve digital media in the classroom, with four stations in a large conference room at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

The first station, “Introduction to Digital Media,” started with Dorothy Hirata and Simon Cording, from Ho‘olaukoa, showing their collaboratively developed digital video website with HAIS, to show educators how they can get started with digital video for 21st century learning. KS Hawaiʻi teachers Nader Shehata and Troy Souza shared insights into how they got some of their students going, including the use of drones in the classroom and getting teachers comfortable with video technology through Halloween.

PBS Hawaiʻi led the discussion on “What Makes a Good Story?” at the second station, showcasing the stories submitted from schools across the state to their popular Hiki Nō program.

ʻŌlelo Community Television helped with “Production Techniques” at the next station, highlighting the use of green screens and digital editing platforms like Final Cut Pro.

KS Hawaiʻi students Tia Kamaliʻi, Jarvis Benito and Carlie Baclig presented some of the projects done on their campus at the “Student Showcase” station, giving educators an idea of what student-produced digital media pieces, like KSH’s “Lehua TV,” could look like.

“It’s been such a great collaborative experience working with HAIS, PBS Hawaiʻi, ʻŌlelo and KS Hawaiʻi staff this year,” said Hirata.

“The positive response we received from educators sharing their inspirations and how they plan to apply digital video upon their return to classes was rewarding. My personal highlight was observing our KS Hawaiʻi haumāna confidently engaging and sharing their projects with educators participating in the conference.”

At the end of the day, three winners were picked, from over 50 conference participants that entered, to win SOTF digital media toolkits. The winners, Brant Ebisuya from Lanakila Elementary, Tabia Margaretich from Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikaimalino, and Scott Tamura from Waimea Elementary, took home an iPad mini, an all-purpose filmmaking case for the iPad, a lavalier microphone and a tripod, to start working on digital media projects in their own classrooms.

This was the second year that KS partnered to create the digital media playground at the SOTF Conference. With the success over the past two years, KS has already been asked to help coordinate and participate next year.

Dorothy Hirata and Simon Cording talk to conference participants about getting started with digital video for 21st century learning.