This was not implemented without some resistance from both faculty and students, but no one could deny the results we saw immediately: deeper engagement, motivation, and stronger learning outcomes—all the best attributes digital storytelling evokes in participants. The end result was nothing short of amazing. The FYC Film Festival and Second Life
The spectacular entrance to the FYC theatre includes a marquee that highlights winning films each semester.
We wanted to be able to showcase the hard work and commitment students give when going through the FYC program, and the documentary film assignment especially lent itself to be showcased. How would we let the world know what we were doing in FYC? What better way than a film festival! At the end of each semester, FYC selects student documentaries that represent our assignment effectively, creatively, and sometimes we include a film simply because a student did something unique with the technology itself. Every semester seems to get bigger and better, and to that end, what started as the showcase of our student’s films, has turned into an opportunity for collaboration, innovation, and of course, entertainment for the entire university. The success of the film festival meant we needed to share this event also, so again, how to do so in a way that matched the innovation of the assignment? Second Life was a natural choice.
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