Westminster College School of Communications faculty member Brad Weaver lectured about teaching documentary storytelling at the Broadcast Education Association On-Location Conference at Clark Atlanta (Ga.) University on Oct. 26.

Weaver, lecturer of broadcast communications, presented “Practical Approaches to Teaching Documentary Storytelling” and shared the successes and protocols that have been used for student capstone projects.

According to Weaver, the quality of student productions improved when they focused an entire semester on pre-production, where students delivered documents such as treatments, proposals and scripts. The pre-production process included a third approval process, which involved having the students prepare a trailer for their documentaries and making in-person pitches with a panel of faculty for approval or revisions.

Weaver also gathered for a panel with five other professors from across North America, including one from Canada. They exchanged experiences along with samples of their students’ work.

Weaver said conference provided an excellent opportunity for peer review and feedback, networking and the exchange of ideas. “I was exposed to information about travel and environmental documentaries and hope to explore that option for our students in the future.”

Weaver joined the Westminster faculty in 2000. He received a bachelor’s degree from Alderson-Broaddus University, a master of science degree from the University of Kansas and a master of education degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

For more information about Weaver’s experience, contact him at weaverbl@westminster.edu or at 724-946-7238.

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