Elevator Pitch - YOU! An Introductory Activity

In our program, we ask our 1:1 iPad learners to introduce themselves to us digitally before we begin to work together in the next school year. Since they are new to using the iPad for creation and new to us, we needed an activity that was a low skill tech lift, but has high interest for the learners since we would be asking them to do this on their own free time in the summer!

The Skill Building

Using the skills from Everyone Can Create Video in Chapter 1 on "Building Your First Movie" using Clips, I made a quick introductory how to video on Clips and sent it to learners.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/zZGMYuxnZUw?showinfo=0&enablejsapi=1

I encouraged the students to watch on a second screen and follow along on their own iPad, or watch the video first and try creating themselves after.

Option for in person learning:

Demo the Clips quickly in class, then using Chapter 1 from Everyone Can Create Video as a guide, have the students complete the activities to learn the features of the app.

The Activity

After they have the basics down, the learners were given the following scenario to create their own Clips video:

Elevator Pitch Scenario

You are in an elevator. There is your dream employer in the elevator with you for the perfect dream job. When they get out, you'll never see them again.

You have only this elevator ride to convince them to give you that dream job.

Once the elevator stops, your time is up (roughly 30 to 60 seconds or 75 words).

What do you do? What do you say? Use the short time you have in this elevator to explain in broad terms why you should be hired for this dream job. 

Create your elevator pitch using the new skills you have with Clips.

We then had them submit their final video electronically. Generally, I give only formative feedback which is heavy on productive praise.

Options for in person learning:

  • students pair and share to show each other their creations
  • students AirDrop to the teacher to create a collection to share as a class
  • selected students (or all!) AirPlay their creation to the class

The Takeaways

This is a great way to bootstrap in some early iPad in the year iPad skills and storytelling for the students.

For the teachers, this is a great way to get a sense of who the students are as learners - both personally (trust me - their personality comes through!), and as a learners (we have had submissions that was just the student's head talking and ones where the student build their own cardboard elevator to film!).

Possible Extensions:

  • Make a specific list of skills from Clips you want to see the students use
  • Consider a way to allow students to revise after sharing and feedback to improve their storytelling and Clips usage

More Resources:

Apple's Clips User Guide

4 replies

August 15, 2024

Thanks for the detailed plan Petra! This is plug-n-play without being overly scripted and I appreciate that and feel i can give this to our staff.

Q: do you think another premise other than dream employer would work? Im developing a bit of an allergy to school talking about jobs, the future if work etc. I think you know what I mean.

To anyone reading this: The jobs thing is about “me.” Is there something we can ask that expresses the value of “us” For example, would the kids bite down on the idea that they have just movedninto a new neighbourhood/school and their asking the local kids if they want to come play, join in building a treehouse, making signs for a concert etc., whatever their passion is?


Do you get where I’m going with this?

August 15, 2024

Those are great prompts Brad and a nice twist on the activity!

August 16, 2024

I used to do it about meeting your favourite author or character, but I what I like about the job one is it got them to talk more about themselves as a pitch which helps me get to know them too.

I didn't write it there, but the main goal of the task is truly revision and process of creation. I've had them remake it 3-4 times over the summer just to get in that practice, and each time I have them add more of themselves (why do you see yourself as a fit for this job) as well as techniques from film making (how does that add to your message of showing yourself to this person). The best part is most kids (without prompting) end up figuring out how to be both roles and film from two angles with ridiculous costumes or masks to show their dream employer (which has ranged this year from Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist and podcaster, to the coach of the Steelers to Kamala Harris), and at this stage, they haven't been ruined by us in high school yet 🤣 and are still really keen to complete revisions and get consistent feedback.

Overall, I agree with you about being allergic to nailing down learning to be all about the future of work, but it was convenient in this case since it reveals a lot of their personality and honestly, even their worldview as shaped by home. That said - I think the elevator pitch idea is so open to other scenarios: historical figures, fictional, themselves now or future, etc. I'm sure everyone can add some creative additions!

August 23, 2024

I love that you have limited the project to 30-60 seconds and only about 75 words. Students always think that they need to create motion feature when less than a minute often does the job. I am always looking for new projects for my students to work on and I might incorporate this simple project into the workflow. Thanks for the great idea.

This post contains content from YouTube.

If you choose to view this content, YouTube may collect and process certain personal data. You can view YouTube’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/t/privacy" target="_blank">privacy policy here<span class="a11y">(opens in new window)</span>.</a>

This post contains content from YouTube.

You have rejected content from YouTube. If you want to change your consent, press the button below.