Some people believe that the best way to learn the concepts and terms of Romeo and Juliet is by reading the story out of a book and answering questions. This could be an effective way in learning the story, but others prefer to do learn it differently. By putting on a film version of the play, students will work with others to discuss ideas on how to portray the story in film. This creates communication and people skills which will be helpful later in life. Doing this project will also create computer and technology skills when using computers to do responses and using cameras to film the production. Having actors act out the play with the characters helps for a deeper understanding of the meaning of Romeo and Juliet as well. This project will in addition help students be more responsible in which they have to do various jobs and work up to their expectations. Although students may learn from reading Romeo and Juliet in class, it is more beneficial to film Romeo and Juliet as a production.
Filming Romeo and Juliet allows students to choose their own jobs according to their work ethic. For example, if a student knows that they cannot memorize lines, they will not choose to be an actor. At the start of this project the students’ English teacher gave the students a note card in which they would write their top three jobs in the project. The students were given a description of each job so they would know exactly what they were signing up to do. The note card method gave students an opportunity to choose exactly what they wanted to do, as opposed to just being assigned something in class in which they had no say in. This shows the responsibility of the student and their ability to make decisions on their own. Decision making is a very important skill that needs to be acquired at a young age in order for a person to be independent in later years. As decision making is very important in a student’s learning, collaborating with other students on ideas is useful as well.
Collaborating with other students gives everyone an opportunity to share and change ideas. Instead of having one leader make all the decisions, there were leaders in every class. There was at least one director in each of the freshman English classes as well as leaders in the classes in Van Meter Iowa. Everyone expressed their own ideas about the project, then took the ideas and changed them so that everyone would agree. To improve and change ideas helps with students in creating communication skills. For example, when there is more than one director in each class, there is a way where both of them can collaborate and agree on ideas instead of having one be in charge of everyone and everything. Different input from colleagues help them to learn that there are other ways of doing things. Collaboration with various people, even ones that aren’t the leaders, help so that everyone can agree in how a scene should be shot or the props that are used in filming. While collaboration helps to create communication and people skills, learning outside of school makes the project worthwhile.
The Romeo and Juliet project provides students a chance to have great experiences learning outside of school. With learning outside of school, students are expected to do more work than simple class work. For many people working in this project, most of the work is done at home or in places where the scenes are filmed. For example, actors don’t always have the ability to memorize lines in the short class period so they have to take time at home to learn them. The filming itself almost always took place after school at a student’s home or after hours at school. This shows that students have to do extra work as opposed to reading the play in class and answering questions. Learning outside of school assures that memories are made during this project. It is definitely worth a student’s time and effort when they are able to look back in their freshman year and remember how fun it was to do the Romeo and Juliet project. Even though making memories through the Romeo and Juliet project is important, the technology skills are a much more crucial part in this project.
The Romeo and Juliet project requires students to use important technology tools such as various websites and cameras as well. The websites used include Google’s “Blogger”, “Wikispaces”, and their own school email addresses. Students were required to write at least one blog post a week, depending on which job they had with the project. After their blogs were created, they had to post them on the Wikispace and all the others students were able to access them, find information, and comment on the items. Students also kept in touch by email for important filming dates, costume, and prop information. The cameraman in each class received hands on experience with using a camera, another important technology skill. All of the above stated things helped to create significant technology skills that are needed in today’s competitive job field. People need to be educated in the proper skills on technology because technology is being used more and more every day. Knowing how to use technology may help a person succeed in getting a steady job later in life.
Producing the Romeo and Juliet project has considerable value in the classroom. This gives the pupil a way to choose and have responsibility over their own work. Students have the opportunity to work with others and create people skills. Without these, they may have a hard time with other people later in life. The project also offers a great way to learn outside of school and make valuable memories while having fun. Even when the student is having fun, they are building much needed technology skills. This will give them an edge in receiving a job when they are older. There is more value in producing the Romeo and Juliet project with all the skills involved than reading the play in class.
