Despite its title, this book is about more than using video as an educational tool. Each brief chapter should be read carefully for its insights into the educational system. Schoonmaker and Wolf were involved in a movie-making research project with K-12 students. Most of the work was done in a failing urban school that was scheduled to close at the end of the year. This was only one of many challenges, but as the authors rightfully observe, education is messy. The children and mentors learned by doing, including making mistakes. Contemporary children come to schools with a media literacy that their teachers often lack. Providing them with cameras in which to tell their stories is a powerful learning experience. Even very young children respond to the opportunity the video camera offers. In impoverished schools, the authors observe, educators often see children 'as the source of the problem rather than the source of the solution.' Listening to children may upset the balance of power that often exists between teachers and students, particularly when it involves adults recognizing media literacy as a legitimate aspect of learning in a digital age. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels.

Choice Reviews

Through dogged reporting and captivating research Unlocking the Moviemaking Mind masterfully conveys how and why video production can and should be utilized in the K-12 classroom. It’s a giant feat, accomplished in a fascinating, easy-to-read narrative—filled with not only intricate case studies, but also heartfelt messages about how effective use of technology (in this case, cameras) greatly assists digital natives in seeing the relevance of what and how they learn. Unlocking the Moviemaking Mind is essential reading for any teacher, parent, or coach seeking to inspire and make learning relevant to today’s digital natives.

David Cutler, founder and executive editor, Spin Education

Schoonmaker and Wolf take us inside classrooms where readers discover how and why video production experiences help build communication skills and lift the imagination of learners of all ages.

Renee Hobbs, Harrington School of Communication and Media, University of Rhode Island