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The skills workshop is an activity to teach a certain skill in the video format. It can of course also be applied to an online or presence exchange. Here the students have the opportunity to share a special skill such as drumming or playing any other instrument, dancing, theatre, acrobats, painting, sewing, but also digital skills such as creating a PowerPoint, editing videos or photos, etc. can be very interesting.
EDUCATIONAL GOALS
To share a skill, one has mastered has many positive aspects: It enhances the self-awareness, it helps in understanding one's own craft better by learning how to teach it to others and after all it is a pleasant experience to help other's learn and understand something new. Furthermore, the teaching between students is the focus of peer-learning and whether it's an artistic or a different kind of skill, it helps to deepen the connection between the students.
OF PARTICIPANTS
2 or more (depending on the skill) for creating the video; any number of participants who want to learn the skill in the video
AGE OF PARTICIPANTS
10+
TIME
Depends on the skill, videos should have a length of about 5 to 15 minutes
ATTACHMENTS
None
TOOLS
Projector for watching the video, equipment needed for the specific skill
For the video creation a camera or mobile phone is needed, a microphone, if possible, an editing software and a laptop or mobile phone for edit and upload the video
STEPS
Step 1 (15 to 30 minutes): Collect a list of skills that the students can provide. The group can then be divided into smaller groups of about 2 to 4 students who will work on one skill video.
Step 2 (30 minutes): The groups now script the video they plan to record. Who will be sharing their skill? Who will be filming? Who will be in charge of recording the audio via microphone? If, for example, a drumming pattern on the djembe is being taught, the artist could explain where this instrument and the music played with it originates, how to hold the djembe, and of course how to learn some easy patterns in normal, but also slow speed.
Step 3 (15 minutes): In the whole group gather all equipment needed for the different skills workshops and ask the students who can organize those needed tools.
Step 4 (20 to 60 minutes): Now it's time for the filming. Make sure to film in landscape mode, with good lighting (not against the sum) and in a quiet surrounding.
Step 5 (20 to 30 minutes): After the filming and recording it's time to edit the video: If needed, the students pick the scenes they wish to be in the video, do some cutting and connect the image with the audio from the microphone recorder. Many editing softwares offer an automatic editing to enhance the colour and general quality of the video.
INFO CORNER
This method is presented in a video format, but of course it can be transferred to an online or presence activity. For online use make sure to provide the needed tools such as a computer / laptop, zoom, stable internet connection and, if possible, a sound system for higher audio quality.
When using the skills workshop to learn a new skill, the students can write down questions that may arise that can be discussed in a possible online or presence exchange later on.
USAGE
The skills workshop perfectly prepares (a) for an upcoming presence or online event and allows the students to learn about a topic (b).
SOURCES
Afrobeat dance workshop with KCC from Tanzania:
https://youtu.be/yjqRt75WlxA
Download the PDF version of the digital method