Anti-Drug Video Project for Astor Academy

DRUG ABUSE
WEBQUEST

Introduction

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the state of New York. Strangely though, marijuana users have the perception that the use of marijuana is without serious consequences! Many, like the idiot to the left, seem unaware of the long term health effects, possible jail time for drug possession or trafficking, and the violent crimes that crop up with the illegal sale of marijuana.

You are the owner of the top music video production company in New York City. Governor Pataki has awarded your company the contract to create a 30 second anti-marijuana TV commercial that will grab the attention of high school students in New York State. Your commercial will be aired on MTV and BET on weekday afternoons between 4:00 and 6:00 pm!

Task

Picture Source: movieweb.com/movie/ clockers/co5.jpg

In order to create your commercial, your group will have to research the effects of marijuana to find the most compelling reasons for teenagers to think twice about using marijuana. There are three stages to your task:

· First, you will work in a group to research existing public policy regulating the use of marijuana. Your research should include existing crime levels, health issues, and legislation. Finally, your report should include new ways to communicate with teenagers about drug use in your community (include a bibliography and footnotes with your text).

Secondly, you will create a storyboard for your idea, with six to ten frames, demonstrating how your commercial will flow.

Finally, you will film and edit your commercial, which should be 30 - 45 seconds in length.

Process

You will form groups of 2-4 people who want to work together to complete the assignment.

1. Research Report (Public Policy Analysis)

Use the following steps to complete the Webquest and your report. Each of the steps has a worksheet that must be completed.

Gather the evidence that this is really a problem in New York.

What are the health problems?
What kind of trouble can you get into?
How do illegal drugs lead to violence in the community?

Gather The Evidence Worksheet (Open this document and print it out).

Identify causes

Where are the drugs coming from?
Why do kids get involved in the first place?

Identify the Causes Worksheet

Evaluate existing policy

What are the laws governing drug possession?
What are the laws governing drug trafficking?
How are kids being educated about the dangers of drug use?

Evaluate Existing Policy Worksheet

Develop solutions

Make a list of possible messages in your commercial to combat drug use among teenagers.

Develop Solutions Worksheet

Select best solution

What do you feel is the best message to combat drug use among teenagers? In other words, what can you say in your ad that will have the most impact?

Select Best Solution Worksheet

Benefits & Costs

Justify how your approach is more effective than other approaches.

Identifying Benefits Worksheet

After these steps are completed, your group will create a 4-page report (double-spaced) about marijuana abuse among teenagers. Use your PPA research and the worksheets you filled in to create the report. The report should include ALL of the information from the PPA.

3. Storyboard

Create a 6-10 frame storyboard on a sheet of posterboard demonstrating the key scenes from your commercial. A storyboard is a set of pictures (drawings) on a single poster that show the story of your commercial BEFORE you film it.

Storyboard Examples
A storyboard is really very similar to a comic strip that shows the video’s story (does not have to be humorous).

4. Video

After your storyboard has been approved, the commercial will be filmed either in class or outside of class, depending on your idea. The final product should be between 30 and 45 seconds long.

Resources

Evaluation

Level -->	4	3	2	1
REPORT
CONTENT	All steps of the PPA have been included.	One step from the PPA is missing or poorly done.	Two steps from the PPA are missing or poorly done.	More than two steps from the PPA process are missing.
SPELLING AND GRAMMAR	Report is completely error-free.	Report contains one or two errors in spelling or grammar.	Report contains three or four errors in spelling or grammar.	Report contains numerous errors in spelling or grammar.
STORYBOARD
CONTENT	Storyboard clearly demonstrates the idea of the advertisement.	Storyboard shows the idea need a little more work.	Storyboard shows the idea has not been clearly thought out.	Idea is completely unclear.
FRAMES	Pictures demonstrate effort, are drawn inside neat boxes, and are arranged nicely on the page.	Pictures are hastily drawn or lines are not straight, but still looks good.	Storyboard is sloppy and shows very little effort.	The storyboard is incomplete or generally very poorly done.
VIDEO
IMPACT	Message is very memorable and clearly motivates against marijuana use.	Message is clear but not eye catching.	Message is not clearly anti-marijuana.	Message is very hard to understand.
CREATIVITY	Commercial is completely original.	Commercial combines ideas from other existing commercials.	Commercial is very similar to an existing commercial.	Commercial is a copy of an existing commercial.

New York State Standards

This Webquest fulfills the following educational standards in the State of New York:

Math, Science, and Technology:

Standard 1: Analysis, Inquiry, and Design

                       Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and
                       engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek
                       answers, and develop solutions.

Standard 2: Information Systems

Students will access, generate, process, and transfer information
using appropriate technologies.

Standard 5: Technology

                       Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design,
                       construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy
                       human and environmental needs.

Standard 6: Interconnectedness: Common Themes

                       Students will understand the relationships and common themes
                       that connect mathematics, science, and technology and apply the
                       themes to these and other areas of learning.

Standard 7: Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

                       Students will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of
                       mathematics, science, and technology to address real-life
                       problems and make informed decisions.

English Language Arts

Standard 4: Use a variety of print and electronic forms for social communication with peers and
adults.

Conclusion

By completing this WebQuest, you will have learned to use the internet to make a professional quality report! You will have performed online research to analyze a social problem, design a solution, and create a finished product (report AND video). This is a major accomplishment!!