Student work is typically shared by projecting their presentations on a large screen while they signed in real time. To document the event, they video the student signing but were never able to syncronize the digitized video with the presentation; that is until Pamela discovered MediaWorks.

Using either an analog or digital video camera, teachers can now capture students signing in realtime to their project and save this as a stand-alone movie. In cases where PowerPoint is used to create the presentation, they can export this presentation as a movie and import both movies into a MediaWorks scene. Since you can run multiple movies at the same time, the signing movie is simply resized and positioned in the corner on top of PowerPoint movie resulting in a perfectly syncronized presentation (view example 1.2 MB .mov). The scene can then be exported as a new movie, additional elements added as desired or the results sent to video tape, VCD or even back to a DV camera for future assessment and sharing. Recognizing this as just one possibility among thousands, the RSDPD adopted MediaWorks state-wide for use in their deaf-education technology programs.

Recently, Pamela spent a week at a school in Lubbock, Texas working with students and teachers on MediaWorks projects. One particular student had written a one page story during his journal time about being a kite. She had him break the story into different scenes and then he drew pictures in the form of a paper storyboard. Then, she showed him how to use the paint program, and he recreated his pictures digital and exported them to MediaWorks. To save some time, Pamela typed the story in for him and then showed him how to create animations. At that point, he he took over and finished up the creative part of the project.

Later that day she recorded him signing his story and while he went off to another class, she made a QuickTime movie out off it and imported it into his MediaWorks project. When he came back and saw it, he literally jumped over the computer cart, ran to get his teacher to show it off. Moreover, he then insisted that his mother come in the next day to see it. Together they finished up the final production and as Pamela put it, "He was sooooo proud!!!!" Perhaps the best part of this story is that before she left on her next assignment, he sat down and wrote a two-page story all on his own! "I wanted to cry at his excitement", said Pamela.

Here again one sees the proof of using multimedia technology in the classroom to excite, inspire and increase student achievement. MediaWorks is fundamentally changing the lives of students and teachers and we're proud MediaWorks has been chosen by the RDSPD to enhance their education technology and curriculum goals.

Pamela is based at the Texas School for the Deaf located in Austin, Texas and travels all over the state working with Regional Day School Program for the Deaf (RDSPD) teachers. There are 59 programs state-wide serving over 7,500 students of all ages. These are deaf students who stay at home but go to a public school close to home. Questions regarding the deaf-education in Texas may be directed to the TEA Division of Services of the Deaf. Phone: 512-463-9424 or TTY 512-475-3540. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/deaf/