Beyond the Bell: Montana's 21st Century Community Learning Centers

In a unique initiative during the AY 23-24, the Montana Office of Public Instruction collaborated with 21st CCLC grantee MAPS Media Institute to conduct a series of virtual and in-person filmmaking workshops with three distinct out-of-school programs in the Montana rural communities of Boulder, Box Elder (Rocky Boy Indian Community), and Lewistown.

Students contributed to the planning, filming, and editing of short, narrative, and non-narrative videos on the importance of quality out-of-school time programs, showcasing a range of student perspectives and programs. These videos also underscore the real-world competencies that students develop through extended learning opportunities.

Students honed practical, in-demand career skills such as creative ideation, narrative development, camera operation, audio recording, interview techniques, video editing, and professional communication. Guided by experienced filmmaker-educators and using industry-standard equipment, students gained invaluable exposure to the creative process from script to screen. The final videos not only highlight the vital impact of out-of-school programs but also showcase the impressive talents of the next generation, ready to contribute to a 21st-century multimedia landscape.

To watch the other films in this series about Montana's 21st Century Community Learning Centers, please visit:
- Boulder Middle School's "Finding Bigfoot":    • Finding Bigfoot  
- The Boys & Girls Club of Lewistown's "The Weirdest Club in All of the MultiVerse":    • The Weirdest Club in All of the Multi...  
- Rocky Boy Indian Community's "Sâkihitowin: Rocky Boy's Out of School Success":    • Sâkihitowin: Rocky Boy's Out-of-Schoo...  

To learn more:
- Montana Office of Public Instruction 21st Century Community Learning Centers: https://opi.mt.gov/Leadership/Academi...
- MAPS Media Institute: https://mapsmediainstitute.com