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FALLS CHURCH, VA-- A just-completed MHz Eduction program at a Manassas middle school has met media attention.

The student film program conducted by MHz Networks Education department and Agatha Jenkins, Education Outreach Specialist, connected youth to the production of films, with the ideal to inspire the worlds of learning and reinforce curriculum- in this case, mathematics.

The full production team, including youth as producers, directors, actors, editors, camera operators, make-up artists, and sound technicians worked to produce two new movies entitled: "Math Ninjas" and "Math Fact Feud."

The Grace E. Metz Middle School contacted MHz Education in January about conducting a series of math movies to generate interest, motivation and learning of subject matter. 

In the film programs, students start from the beginning of film production, keeping curriculum in mind, to move through story development to create a script. Students then complete production 'applications' and are assigned to their respective 'jobs' for the film shoot and overall production. Actors prepare lines, the art department works on the sets, location and props for pre-production, while the camera and sound departments record film and sound during the production phase. Each day shots go to the editors who begin working on putting the film together. Once the film is complete, the groups convene and usually present a movie premiere. 

Along with multi-faceted learning and a feeling of accomplishement, the students films will be entered into The Shortie Awards- MHz Networks annual international film festival, now in its seventh year. The awards are dedicated to the education, promotion and encouragement of youth education in film and media. For more information on The Shortie Awards, visit: http://www.mhznetworks.org/education/shortieawards/

With partnerships in over 500 schools in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. MHz Networks Education supports educators through face-to-face and online staff development opportunities, aligned with national standards, while encouraging creativity and fostering intercultural understanding. Education Resources provides instructional programming and original educational film curriculum to schools to facilitate programs such as the one just completed in Manassas.

The Education department facilitates over 15 such programs a year, comprised of a series of film education workshops plus the full productions. Workshops are designed to be 6-15 sessions long, depending on the type of films being made and time allowed for the lessons.

Teachers at involved schools decide upon the curriculum they would like students to learn about or reinforce and students then brainstorm story ideas to revolve around the chosen content as their film topic.

The Education group is currently working with 2 other classes at the school to make additional mathematics films.

Recently featured in the Manassas Journal Messenger, more information is available at:http://www.insidenova.com/isn/news/local/article/math_movies_premiere_at_metz/13532/.

Contact:
Stephanie Misar
8101 A Lee Highway
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-770-7100
www.mhznetworks.org 
 
MHz Networks is an independent, non-commercial television broadcaster delivering international educational and arts programming and providing diverse cultural perspectives for a globally-minded audience.

MHz Worldview, MHz Networks flagship channel, brings programming to globally-minded audiences in the US though affiliates, including cable, satellite and online. Serving the Washington, DC area’s 4.9 million residents with eight local broadcast channels, MHz Networks features programs from around the world on-air in more than 20 different languages.

A division of Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation headquartered in Richmond, VA, MHz Networks is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. MHz has studio facilities in Falls Church, VA and at Washington, DC’s Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

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