I can somewhat answer your question. I have been a Vegas user for several years and recently showed a video to my son’s second grade class. Some of the teachers and principal were so impressed that they sent in a grant request for the school. A short time later, they received approval and got 2 each high-end laptops and desktops for video production. They purchased VV3 at the beginning of 2002.

The main users are either 4th or 5th graders. I have spent many volunteer hours working with these children showing them some of the potential of Vegas Video. They started out making videos for learning impaired kids and have recently started to have fun just making projects for the school. It amazes me how creative they are at this age and what quick learners too!

So, if elementary age children can master VV, I would definitely give high school kids a chance. Good luck!

There's a Vegas curriculum book available to learn the "how to" of many things Vegas:

http://www.sonicfoundry.com/Products/NewShowProduct.asp?PID=684

However, in addition to that, I highly recommend you educate your students in the "why" of various things. Teach them the language of film (why you'd use a crossfade, and what various camera angles "mean"). Especially, teach them good lighting. The "using an NLE" is just one small part of a larger picture, don't let it overshadow the important goal of "being able to make TV and tell a story."

Once the obligatory music video is out of the way, most people don't understand when to use various effects, and end up with the video equal of "hey, look at all these fonts I can use!".

Grade their project not just on technical merit but on artistic content, camera usage, lighting and how they used the technology to tell a story.

I love the idea of students having access to technology that lets them do the things they see on TV. Let them copy what they see, and then come up with something new on their own.

Just my opinion <g>.

///d@

P.S. The other thing to teach is timing. I've seen too many beginner videos where they couldn't bear to edit something out, and they end of being way too long and somewhat boring. Worked hard on an FX shot? Great, then tease us with it, don't leave it on so long that we figure out every detail of how you did it. I think my morning coffee is wearing off, time to get off the soapbox and go to work...

Thanks to all who responded.

Further thoughts from others would be appreciated.

I should think that the high school market would be a terrific place for Vegas Video to get new customers/users. I can't imagine an easier more feature-packed program than VV3.

Also, cable access TV stations (particularly in big cities). Not the stations themselves but the independent videomakers and producers who put their shows on. One of the biggest problems they face is affordable, easy-to-use editing they could do on their own without having to rely on the station's equipment. Usually it's a pain to book time at the editing suites and then you have to learn how to use the equipment or have someone sit with you, and then your time is up and you're stuck with all this footage you've barely tackled. All kinds of obstacles and bureaucracy.

Just my $.02.