Some people think a fun project isn’t as helpful to students as taking notes, quizzes, and tests are. In Grosse Pointe South High School and Van Meter High School, the freshmen classes of Mr. Provenzano and Mr. Hyer produced a film version of Romeo and Juliet. Not only was this the first time any school ever attempted to do this, but the students were given considerable autonomy. Some parents might think this isn’t a good idea. They say that the students should have read the play, and taken notes, tests, and or quiz based on the play. According to some parents, this would have better educated students for this unit. The students re-created Romeo and Juliet. In order to do so, they had to understand the play itself. In Mr. Provenzano’s class, not only were they assigned to work on their projects, but students were also assigned to read the play and do discussion questions. These questions were based on the play and its themes and the answers had to be in a short essay form. Also, each student had their own individual job, whether it was an actor, director, camera man, costume designer, advertiser, etc… They worked together to make a great production. For the students and their parents, this is something they will never forget; it’s a great memory for them. On top of all of that, students advanced their technological skills during the project. They had to do many of their assignments on the computer. Although reading, taking notes, and having tests have good value, The Epic Romeo and Juliet project has better value in the classroom.
In this unit, the students had to learn how to collaborate. Collaboration is when two or more people work together and is a very important skill for students to have in their future. In most jobs, workers are required to collaborate. Unfortunately, tests, quizzes, and note taking require no collaboration, and therefore students do not get to practice it. During the Epic Romeo and Juliet project, the students practiced collaboration many times. Each job required collaboration. The advertising jobs required the students to exchange ideas. The costume designers had to work with the actors to tell them what they needed to wear. Directors and actors had to work together and understand each other. If there were any problems with filming, the directors, actors, cameramen, or any other students involved needed to collaborate and use their problem solving skills. While the project taught the students to collaborate, it also helped the students with their tech tools.
The new advanced technology is being used every day. Whether it is during school, at work, or even at home, it is important to advance with technology. Tests, quizzes, and note taking have nothing to do with technology which is why many students lack the capability of using up to date technology. During the project, students had to use technology many times. Mr. Provenzano assigned the students to do discussion questions and blog posts every week on the computer. Everyone was required to use a wiki, blogger.com, kidblog.com, and turnitin.com. Some jobs required more like Twitter, Facebook, Skype, etc… All of the advertising jobs were mostly based on technology. Print advertising had to make posters using the computer, video advertising had to make videos, and social media had to create web pages, blogs, social advertising, etc. about the play. All of those required the students to learn and use technology. While the students were learning how to use technology, they were also learning real world skills for the future. In addition to advancing their technological skills, the project gave the students something to remember forever.
Memories are a great thing to share. Many memories come from someone’s childhood, or during their school. Some memories are like the first/last day of school, friends, nice teachers, school plays, etc… Many memories come from school, and school is more than tests and quizzes. The Epic Romeo and Juliet project gave students something they will be able to share with their family later on. Working with friends to re-create a play is something a student will remember forever, rather than taking tests, quizzes, and notes. The innovative process of re-creating the Romeo and Juliet play with another school is an unforgettable experience that all students will carry into adulthood. The simple act of reading about the play would most likely be forgotten shortly after the assignment is completed. The project gave students something to remember, it also gave them the opportunity to be more involved in the unit.
The ordinary way of a Romeo and Juliet unit would require the students to read, take notes, and have a test on the play. When the students do this they are not as involved as re-creating the play. The project was hands on; every student was involved in it. The students had to do in depth reading and answer discussion questions on top of what their job required. Each student had their own job which required them to understand the play itself. For example, the writers had to translate the Shakespearean language to modern English, to do so they had to understand the play itself. Turning the play in modern English also helped the students understand what Shakespeare was trying to say. The actors reenacted the play; therefore they had to understand what they were reenacting. The students doing soundtrack had to understand the mood so they could put the appropriate song in. Prop masters had to understand the setting of the play and get the appropriate costumes for the actors. The advertising jobs had to understand the play as they made their videos, posters, or blogs.
The Epic Romeo and Juliet project that Mr. Provenzano and Mr. Hyer assigned their students was a great way to teach the unit. The students were more hands on, they learned to collaborate, learned how to use technology, and they have a great memory to share to their families. Giving each student their own individual job is a great experience for them. They have to collaborate like the real world and they are more involved in the unit. Instead of reading the play and taking notes, tests, and quizzes, they read the play, re-created it in modern time, and did discussion questions based on the original play. On top of that, the students advanced in their technologic skills by using websites like kidblog, blogger, turnitin, twitter, facebook, etc… The students learned real life skills from this project, and that’s something that tests, notes, and quizzes can not offer. Although reading, taking notes, and having tests have good value, The Epic Romeo and Juliet project has better value in the classroom.
