TOWER CITY - Montana Flynn's time in front of and behind the camera led to insightful observation.
"It felt really weird at first knowing you were on camera. I saw there were people coming and then I thought, 'This isn't that bad,' " Flynn, 11, of Tower City, a fifth-grader participating in Williams Valley Elementary's after-school program, said. "I learned directing a movie can be really hard."
Flynn was among a cast of "stars" interviewed March 26 by a professional video crew, GEARS Inc.
Virtual Showcase
The video will eventually be seen by a national audience as part of a U.S. Department of Education technical assistance site to aid other districts operating similar after-school programs. Williams Valley was chosen to represent Pennsylvania in a "Virtual Showcase" sponsored by the Department of Education.
"The professionals from GEARS Inc. were very supportive and helpful to both the students and staff," Susan Diegert, 21st Century Community Learning Center site coordinator for after-school programs at Williams Valley, said.
"The entire interview process was such a unique experience for all of us. In fact, it has sparked an interest among the students in producing a show or a movie, and now they'd like a large camera and lighting," Diegert said.
The crew videotaped teachers and students in action, and also included interviews with Diegert; Barbara J. Naradko, director of post-secondary programs and community based education with Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29; Matt Butensky, STEM coordinator for IU 29; Matt Fickinger, STEM coordinator for Williams Valley and an instructor for eighth-grade science, physics and advanced physical science at the high school; and instructor Carmen Moore. The after-school program incorporates the use of STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, addressing research suggesting only 43 percent of graduating seniors are ready for college math and just 27 percent are ready for college science.
In addition to Williams Valley, after-school programs run in three other Schuylkill County districts - Pottsville, Minersville and North Schuylkill. The three-year grant to operate the after-school programs was roughly $1.2 million, Naradko said. It started in 2011 and will conclude in September. Everything is free to students participating and the grant also covers their home-bound transportation.
Naradko said the state Department of Education chose IU 29 for the recognition. A number of factors went into selecting the local school - Williams Valley - as the site for the national production. The filming crew was interested in capturing a typical STEM day, and Williams Valley was able to provide that in prompt fashion.
"It's great recognition for the school and the IU," Naradko said.
Only three
The Vikings' selection is unique. Besides Williams Valley, only two other programs in the U.S. will be filmed - one in New Jersey and one in Oregon.
Williams Valley was the first school videotaped, according to project director Sharon Ungrady of GEARS, a subcontractor for the U.S. Department of Education.
"They were able to do this very quickly," she said. "We chose these three because of the quality of their programming," Ungrady said. She said the focus of the video is to offer other operators of 21st Century programs an idea of what the programs should look like in the field. The images and audio will then be developed into the technical assistance site.
"We will turn everything over to the U.S. Department of Education," Ungrady said.
By late summer or early fall, the video should be available at the website, www.y4y.ed.gov.
Ungrady was joined by Rachael Wingfield, GEARS project coordinator, and Paul Grant, a videographer, editor and producer from Washington, D.C.
Hands-on
The crew followed the hands-on learning events in a computer lab with Fickinger and Morgan Williard, as well as a lesson in "Engineering with a Marshmallow Twist" with instructors Moore, Mandi Jobe and Sharon Scheib.
"They wanted to know my strengths and weaknesses with the program and wanted us to show them the day-to-day operation of what we're doing," Fickinger said.
On the day of the filming, Fickinger was working with students on using video technology to develop a commercial, play or skit, and demonstrating how to piece it together as a finished product.
"Some of our videos have a lot of humor in them. I've been the director and the script writer and it's a really good thing to be working with all of my friends," said Flynn, who developed a six-page script crafted from one of her favorite video games, "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Over Hyrule."
Fickinger said it was exciting to have the video crew present and for the district to receive the recognition.
"It's a big deal," Fickinger said. "I think people will be surprised with what our kids can do."
'Team Squishy'
In the library, the GEARS team could see students trying to build the highest structure possible using toothpicks and marshmallows.
Each group selected a team name and began to explore shape and function. Team Squishy, comprised of sixth-grader Sabryna Carl and fifth-graders Alex Bogle and Carson Barry, won the challenge with an 11-inch tall structure.
"I knew it needed a really sturdy base," Barry, 11, of Tower City, said.
"At first, it was going to be a square," Carl, 12, of Williamstown, said. "It beats being at home and it's a lot of fun. You can be with your friends and the teachers are all nice."
Teachers said that in reality, the design process may take years and asked students to consider what they would do differently if given the same challenge the next day. They discussed what materials they would use and what shapes were the strongest.
Support
Diegert expressed the district's appreciation for the support from IU 29.
"I would also like to thank Dr. Diane Niederriter, Ms. Barb Naradko, Mrs. Michele Daynorowicz, and Mr. Matt Butensky, all from IU 29, for their confidence and continued support of our 21st Century Learning Center here at Williams Valley," she said.