This is when it gets fun (kinda)

Today the class really kicked into gear, and that’s mostly because I shut up. Today, I put them to work, focusing on the scriptwriting process.

Yesterday, I did a complete overview of the entire video production process; how to write, plan, shoot, edit, and finish a video. It was a lot of lecture, but the guys (and they’re all guys, except for Nurse Wendy) loved it. They were scribbling away, taking copious notes. I made sure they had many opportunities to teach each other for review, and we had time for discussion. Still, I pretty much talked for, oh, seven hours. (And nobody slept!)

This is a pilot for the Good Media School, and I expected there would be changes to my plan. Originally, we were going to work on Wendy’s video for waterborne diseases. But Wendy was gracious enough to put that one aside so the guys could work on their own groups’ needs instead.

Each group is from a different health field; disaster management, child health, and one other I don't recall, and so they are creating a script to help people in each of their respective fields. This change makes teaching more challenging, because I have to manage three separate projects instead of one. Plus, it makes it harder to complete all the content I want to get through. But, the positives are powerful; the students are engaged because they care about the content, and on a practical level, they will be able to actually use these videos to help people when they leave. Well worth the tradeoff.

It was funny. Last night, I told the guys there were prizes (see picture) for whoever did the best video. When they saw them, there were literal oohs and aahs! Honestly, it’s a privilege to give them these tools. They’ll use them to do good.

Important side note: the SOB mosquitos are DEAD (“SOB mosquitos” is the Latin term---but then, you already knew that, didn’t you?). There were a few still limping around on little crutches and wheezing, but the mosquito net kept them out and I slept like a rock all night. Thank God.

 

 

Indian Technology. As smart and tech savvy as the Indians are, the actual electrical system leaves a lot to be desired. I had an up-close-and-personal experience with the concept of “grounding” a few years back that haunts me still. Here just one of the truly frightening items we have used, just to plug my Mac in. Still, we couldn’t get it to stay plugged in. So, in the end, my friend Paneel found a typically ingenious Indian solution; he pinned the plug into the wall with a chair. Of course!

UPDATE!!

I JUST finished posted, when, a knock at the door. Apparently, our conference room, which we have booked through Friday, has been REbooked to someone else..starting tomorrow.  So at 9:30pm, as I was just about to head to bed, instead I will be moving all of our technology, cameras, gear--including the "thing" to the right >>

back into our sleeping cells, I mean rooms, for the night, until we can find anther conference room tomorrow.

<sigh.> Time like this, this "leaf in a stream" crap can get a little old.  :)

Comments

[Heidi Vayda]

Maybe you'll have an even better training room for your last three days!?!
The good you do is good enough!
Enjoy your last days.