Documentary Category

Yesterday I visited Eastmoor Middle School in Columbus, Ohio. 50+ students presented a presentation based on their desire to participate in National History Day. At this school, the teachers are pushing the documentary category because of the availability of resources. In response, I thought I'd blog about some documentary tips:

- Research, research, research:
No matter what your category, research is paramount. Finding great primary and secondary sources and using them to create a thesis is still key to NHD.

- Music
I highly advocate using music of the time period that your documentary addresses. This is a way to create some contextual understanding through a different medium.

- Use your 10 minutes wisely
Ten minutes may seem like a lot of time, but it really isn't. Professional documentary makers will have hours of time to tell their story. Think about the outline of your documentary: Have an introduction, have chapters or sections, wrap up with a conclusion that really brings home your thesis and related to the annual theme.

- Interviews
Interviewing either the "expert" or someone who was a witness to the event adds diversity and interest to your documentary. Don't over use any interview. The interview acts as a source to illustrate a point and help reinforce your thesis.

- Storyboarding
After you've done your research, using a storyboard to lay out your documentary can be extremely helpful. A storyboard is a tool that shows what will be on screen, while also showing what the voiceover will be saying.


If you'd like to check out some student documentaries, you can find them on YouTube or by searching Google Videos.

Why Participate in NHD

Yesterday I visited Springfield's Hayward Middle School where the students are given the option to participate in NHD. Students will ask me sometimes, "Do I have to do this?" This is usually a discussion that happens between student and teachers, but I wanted to highlight some reasons to participate in NHD.

Direct your own learning: With History Day you get to create your own contribution to the field of history with your research and project. Sometimes students uncover sources or stories that no one else has illuminated. Plus, you get to explore a topic of your own interest and become immersed in something that you may not otherwise get the opportunity to learn about.

Compete!: For some students, competing may be really attractive. It is a way to challenge yourself and in some cases, win cash prizes or scholarship. We give away a half scholarship to Case Western Reserve University at Ohio History Day every year.

Prep for College: History Day gives you the opportunity to talk about out-of-school academic experiences, high-level research, and even create a piece for your portfolio. Students who participate in NHD report to us that they have a much easier time transitioning to college-level expectations of research and work.

Admittedly, a History Day project can be a lot of work, but I think many students who have gone through the process will say it is well worth it!

Web Site Category

This year NHD is requiring that all web site entries are created through their online portal at www.nhd.org. Here in the NHD-Ohio office our intern, Lola, created a sample web site and provided some insight on creating a web site entry with the new software:

http://76493248.nhd.weebly.com/

Designing a website through the NHD Website Portal using Weebly Editor is so easy and fun that anyone can do it. The designing process simply consists of the designer choosing whatever design or element they like, dragging it to the desired location, and dropping it at that location.
Creating pages on the website is also a cinch. The designer simply selects the title “New Page,” adds a “Page Name”, and begins to build the page with any element they choose. The elements contain a combination of words and pictures.
I think the best part of the NHD Website Portal using Weebly Editor is the multimedia section. The multimedia section offers a variety of choices such as the photo gallery, the audio player, and YouTube video. All of these choices make the website come alive and it becomes more interesting and interactive.
My overall designing experience of a NHD Website using Weebly Editor is definitely a good one and I would recommend it for students and teachers who want to include it as part of the History Day format. The process offers you a chance of choosing, managing, and learning something new with no intimidation at all.