What is Video Futures Project?
The Video Futures Project at the Center for Human Development in Anchorage, Alaska is an innovative research-to-practice model which works collaboratively with educators, high school students who experience disabilities and their families, and other supports using video explorations and video self-modeling interventions to help prevent dropout and improve transitions.
This demonstration project instructs and supports educators, (especially secondary school and community-based personnel) in the basics of video production and the theory and applications of video self-modeling. Educators learn to use consumer-quality equipment to produce short videotapes that show students in desired roles, editing the video footage to retain adaptive-only skills and behavior. This strategy has proven efficacy with high school students who experience disabilities in preventing course failure and dropout, promoting generalization of academic and vocational skills, and changing behaviors.
The Video Futures Project is funded by a federal grant from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation for three years (October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1999). During the project's third year, a comprehensive training resource kit will be pilot tested by replication site personnel in both rural Alaska and the urban metropolis of Honolulu, Hawaii. Prior to disseminating the final packaged product nationwide, project personnel will incorporate revisions based on summaries and evaluation reports from the pilot replication sites.