American Film Institute Giving Tech A Starring Role In Schools; "Kill A Mockingbird' Gets Twist; Calif., Maryland students learn digital video, editing through a special program.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: KATHARINE STALTER

High school teacher Elizabeth Lay wanted students to get a deep understanding of books they read in her classes. The English and social studies teacher at Technical High School in Oakland, Calif., knew that writing book reports wasn't the way to get kids excited about learning.

And she knew her students were media savvy when it came to music videos, TV shows and movies.

So when Lay had a chance to participate in a program by the American Film Institute's Screen Education Center, she took it. She had learned of the program when she spoke on a panel with Mitch Aiken, the AFI's director of screen education.

Through the program, her students used digital video and editing gear to create their own movies. This helped them grasp the themes of books they read for class, she says.

The program, in place at 25 schools in California and Maryland -- states chosen because AFI offices are there -- helps students use filmmaking and multimedia technologies in the classroom.

The nonprofit AFI is probably best known for its awards shows, which are broadcast on TV, and its rankings, such as the top 100 movies, stars, songs, and heroes and villains. The organization awards a master's degree in filmmaking to students at its conservatory, and for more than a decade it's introduced technology to Hollywood filmmakers.