Learning all the time

Learning all the time is the title of a completely brand new and totally unique film about Home Education which challenges assumptions about learning in general and Home Education in particular. Scroll down to watch it. The film was made as part of a ten week (one day a week) film making course provided by Undercurrents and will be featured at the BEYONDTV International Video Festival 2007 in Swansea on November 28th.

My own son and a friend's son both have an interest in film-making and so wanted to take part in the free course which was available locally. When I first wandered in to the film making course I had never used a camcorder before and I fondly imagined that I would only be there as a responsible adult for my children. Much to the amusement of the group, I was rather shocked to discover that we were expected not only to take part in the workshop but also to make a REAL film. Inevitably we were given home education as our project and Undercurrents asked us to make a film that "challenged assumptions".

Learning how to use the equipment and edit the footage involved a learning curve that was not so much steep as vertical for me at least! The children learned how to use the cameras and editing equipment and they all practiced interviewing and being interviewed. Their questions and answers were completely unscripted as they learned their craft and much of the resulting footage is used in the film. Other footage was obtained by simply taking the camera along to a couple of home ed meets that were going on. I wanted to try to capture something of the nature of autonomous education so I mostly just filmed what was happening around me and hoped for the best.

Anyway, I think we got there and the film looks pretty much like a "real" one in the end. Nothing in the film was staged or scripted, and the children are simply their authentic, wonderful selves throughout. I have put it on the Internet simply in the hope that it inspires and heartens Home Educators. If it provides food for thought for the sceptics, that's a bonus! Feedback most welcome and appreciated. Enjoy!