The money raised through this pledge will all go to purchase a class set of brand new HD cameras, designed specifically to work on stop motion animation projects. In my digital arts class, students learn about animation techniques and concepts, and we would really love to be able to put these concepts into practice. 

The camera we are looking to purchase is produced by Hue HD, an educational technology company, whose goal is to develop products that can be used in the classroom to assist in helping students transform their learning in visually dynamic ways. The camera was first developed by the Center for Engineering Education and Outreach at Tufts University, who will also be a partner with our school on the first project in which we will use the cameras. 

In collaboration with a physics class at High Tech High, students will pose questions they have that relate to physics and conduct research to find answers. Once this phase is complete, they will translate this knowledge into a film script and produce an RSA-style stop motion animation to explain their concept to a mass audience (Here are some examples of RSA animation). Our inspiration for the project is a Youtube channel, called MinutePhysics, which features short videos produced by Henry Reich that help explain physics concepts. Our hope is that our students will be able to address questions that their peers might also have about physics and produce videos that can be used as teaching tools; videos created by students for students!

The added benefit of your investment is that the pledge will not go to a one-time cost, as this is an investment in technology that will benefit the school for a long time. These cameras will be able to help a lot of students and teachers at our school share what they are working on. Our school maintains a highly collaborative culture, so we will be able to share the resources, and students will be able to share their skills with peers during the entire time they are in school.

To get down to the nitty gritty, we will be purchasing with this investment:

10-Hue HD Cameras and Software Licenses @ $50/unit: The camera and software will enable us to produce with ease and efficiency. Comparable hardware and software will cost significantly more, so this is the best value product available for what we are trying to do. 
*Any additional funds above and beyond the investment goal, will be reinvested in more equipment and materials for classroom use in filmmaking and production, like lighting equipment, sound recording equipment, more cameras, etc.

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