2018 NETA Awards - Teacher Resources
From South Carolina ETV
Project Budget: $99,504
The Southern Campaign of the American Revolution is an eight-part video series with accompanying lesson plans for middle school history students. The Southern Campaign was critical in determining the outcome of the American Revolutionary War, yet the South’s importance has been downplayed in most historical accounts. The story begins with the invasion of British troops and fall of Charleston in 1780. After catastrophes at The Waxhaws and Camden, victories in battles and skirmishes at Brattonsville, Musgrove Mill, Kings Mountain, and Cowpens defeated the British aggressors and their loyalist friends, leading to surrender at Yorktown, Virginia. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse (North Carolina) and the siege of Ninety Six are also featured in the series. Each module of The Southern Campaign includes a short video episode, photos, maps, and online curriculum suggestions for teachers.
What Did the Judges Say?
Excellent in all respects. The content is thoughtfully presented in a way that appeals to learners with varied learning styles: reenactments, narration, maps, etc. Delivering videos in short segments instead of one long program makes them classroom-friendly. The teacher support materials are comprehensive.
The budget indicates conscious considerations of cost savings. They planned strategically; they used their assets well. They had interns and students who helped and learned about the process of creating these episodes as well as actors. They saved almost $30K in the production process.
Clear measurable data shows that teachers love these segments and that the segments will be used to educate thousands of students. I appreciated reading the teacher comments as well as the page view analytics.
Overall, this project represents an ambitious concept effectively executed. This project excelled for three reasons. First, they chose a topic that needed to be highlighted. Second, they effectively saved money while giving students and interns valuable experience. Third, the segments are already receiving positive feedback.