New York students grades K-12 are invited to participate in the RSA Student Video Contest!
Are you interested in making your own short films and videos? Using the theme of “Our School, Our Community,” create a video three minutes in length or less and you could win $1,000! Submissions are free for participating students from RSA member schools.
Two grand prize award winners will be selected – one from grades K-8, and one from grades 9-12. Along with the $1,000 grand prize, two runner-up prizes of $250 and $100 will be awarded respectively. All winning videos will be awarded in person and have their videos shown at RSA NY’s Summer Conference in July 2022 as well as being displayed online and in RSA NY Communications.
Deadline for Submissions is February 28th, 2022.
How to submit your video
- Submit the registration form.
- Create your video.
- Submit your video to the RSA NY Student Video Contest Collaborative Playlist on their YouTube Channel.
About the RSA
The Rural Schools Association (RSA) is a member-driven organization that represents the particular interests of the small and rural school districts of New York State. RSA also initiates research and provides information and services as needed by its members. Learn more about RSA NY on their website!
Need help brainstorming?
Here are some ideas and formats that the RSA suggests. Remember, these are just ideas to help you get started. Your video is not required to fit into any of the formats below!
Ideas
- Great things happen in our rural community.
- Community coexistence and how we welcome others.
- Place-based learning.
- Collaborations in our community.
- How your school contributes to the community.
Formats
- Music videos
- Narrated videos
- Documentary style
- Short play
Techniques & Tips for Video Projects
For more techniques and tips on creating your own video projects, check out these great resources from PBS LearningMedia.
Stop Motion Animation | Media Arts Toolkit
Watch this video featuring teachers from Bowling Green Junior High in Kentucky as they use stop motion animation to give students opportunities to experiment with technology, work together, and communicate things they’ve learned in a fun and creative way. Then, check out the video support materials to start your own simple animation project!
The Skill of Imagination | Video Production: Behind the Scenes with the Pros
In this video from PBS station KET, producer, director and videographer Frank Simkonis talks about an important skill one must possess in order to be successful in production.
Audio Recording Tips | Media Arts Toolkit
Audio is an extremely important part of creating good video, especially when doing interviews. Learn how to avoid making common audio mistakes by following these tips.
How to Properly Focus | SRL Video Tutorial Series
This short video from NewsHour Student Reporting Labs will show you how to properly focus an SLR camera for a picture perfect shot!
Green Screen Tips | Media Arts Toolkit
Using the green screen video technique opens up a world of possibilities. These easy tips demonstrate how the technique can be used for student newscasts, artistic performances, action-adventure videos, and PSA’s!
Explore Collections on PBS LearningMedia
Media Arts Toolkit
The Media Arts Toolkit collection includes three sections: In the Classroom, Creating Media Arts, and Media Art Artworks. Watch videos of educators who are using media in the classroom in innovative and creative ways. Find tips on how to start creating media and learn how artists are using media in their artworks.
Video Production: Behind the Scenes with the Pros
In this collection, members of KET’s professional video production team describe the video production process, the skills required for each role, and provide tips to successfully produce a video. These learning objects provide students with the tools to develop and create video production projects across the curriculum and at all levels. Students will learn about video production techniques, basic equipment needs, production roles, and careers.
PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs ⎪ Video Tutorials
Improve your technical know-how with these tips and tutorials on producing great video from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. Make your video project compelling, informative and fun!