Public Service Announcements

As students expand their technology skills, they gain an understanding of the purpose of a public service announcement (PSA) as well as the difference between a PSA and an advertisement. Students develop ideas for a PSA to raise awareness about a health, safety, or environmental issue.

In this project, students work cooperatively to create a 30-second PSA that can air on a local access cable channel, be shown to the school, or posted on a school website. The teacher first introduces PSAs to the class as short, non- commercial announcements that provide information to the public. If Internet access is available, the students can be shown samples of PSAs (see "Tools and Resources" for suggested sites). Working in groups of three to four, students select a topic from a list provided and then use the Internet to find information that they can use to support their message. Students use a storyboard to develop their PSA based on their research findings.

They write the script using a storyboard in AppleWorks, create the scenes, decide on props and costumes, and determine their individual roles in the production (actor, camera operator, director, lighting, sound, and so on). If it is possible for the PSAs to air on a local public access channel, a representative could be invited to explain station policies for PSAs, to review storyboards and make suggestions, and to offer hints for effective use of the video equipment. Next, students use a digital video camera to film their scenes. They may need to scout locations for filming on or near the school grounds.

Once filming is complete, students use iMovie to import and edit the video clips, record narration, and add titles, transitions, and other elements. Students import any photos they want to use from iPhoto and music from iTunes. (The class discusses copyright issues that relate to incorporating photographs and music that are not original creations.)

The completed PSAs are shared with the entire class before being shown on television or to the school or posted on a website.

After completing this project, students will be able to:

• Understand the purpose of a public service announcement (PSA) as well as the difference between a PSA and an advertisement.
• Use video as a format to communicate effectively and to raise awareness about a health, safety, or environmental issue.
• Demonstrate creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Work cooperatively in small groups.
• Think twice about their actions and the possible impact of their actions.

After completing this project, students will be able to:

• Use a digital video camera to shoot video.
• Use the Internet to conduct research.
• Use iPhoto to import photos.
• Use iTunes to import music.
• Use iMovie to produce a movie project.

A teacher-created rubric works well as a means of assessment. Students can self-assess the project as well as be assessed by the teacher.

Internet
iLife How-To Guides
Sites with examples of PSAs:

• Media Campaign
• NIDA - Information on Drugs of Abuse

Tools
Macintosh computers, digital video camera, Internet access, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, AppleWorks

If final projects will appear on television or on a website, it's a good idea to check the school policies to determine whether or not signed parental permission forms are needed.