Media-Making Kits to Use in Your Classroom

The Media Kit Rental Program was developed by the Michigan Learning Channel team with the goal of sharing public media resources and expertise with teachers who want to integrate media creation into their classrooms and learning spaces. Michigan educators, librarians, and after-school program providers can request use of these kits at no cost in order to empower student creators who are producing short films, educational content, virtual field trips, PSAs, and other digital content as part of a project-based learning experience.

The Process

We’ve made it easy to bring media creation to your students. Learn about how you can join the fun with our 3-step process below.

Request

Fill out a request form to let us know what you’re planning. You can use one of our pre-built projects, or share your own idea.

Refine

We will get in touch to help refine your idea, share resources, and decide which kit is right for your applications.

Create!

We will lend you the kit when it becomes available, and you create a masterpiece!

Getting Inspired

LABS and the Michigan Learning Channel connect educators to media from across the country that you can integrate into your classrooms and programs. Learn more about some examples below.

LABS Projects

Visit our getting started page to lay some groundwork, and explore our LABS projects to try a turn-key media creation opportunity with your students.

Classroom Resources

Our classroom resources page has video collections, lesson plans, and more to help you think about where media making can fit into your teaching – and how easy it can be!

New! Digital Co-Teacher Powered by SchoolAI

Use our unique project design tool to chat with a trained AI co-teacher that will help you think through project ideas that align with your curriculum, classroom, and community. This tool will prompt you to think about your students, their interests, and their skills as well as what instructional goals and standards you want to meet with a media project. The tool can help you identify which media kits are best suited for your project ideas, and then help you create a project outline and initial unit plan that you can download to further develop and modify. As with all AI, this tool is in ongoing development and should be used with care and intentionality.

Meet Our Kits

We have four different kits available to use, each with a different purpose in mind. Learn more about each kit below.

iPad Kit

The iPad Kit is meant for large and small group applications where a more professional-level setup is required. The iPad kit can support just about any kind of digital media production, from single subject standups using the teleprompter to on-location spots and two-person interviews. The built-in camera on the iPad mini will record professional-level video content and the pre-loaded apps will allow students to watch, edit, and export their content all in one device.

This Kit Includes

• iPad mini 7th generation with pre-loaded apps
• iPad videographer cage with handles
• Lightweight tripod with swivel ball head
• Cell phone/iPad mobile teleprompter
• Light kit with two studio LED lights
• On-camera microphone
• Wireless microphone kit with two lavalier microphones

Mobile Kit

The Mobile Kit is designed for independent and small group student-led production. This kit empowers young people to see their personal devices as content creation tools and introduces them to a variety of inexpensive equipment that can take their production to the next level. The lightweight tripod and LED light will support recording in just about any setting, while the gimbal stabilizer will help students experiment with moving video capture including exciting B-roll and other inventive social-ready and cinematic capture. Note: this kit does not include a device.

This Kit Includes

• Cell phone gimbal stabilizer
• Lightweight tripod and selfie stick
• Mini LED light and stand
• Wireless clip-on lavalier microphone

Podcast Kit

The Podcast Kit includes everything that is needed for a two-person team to create a ready-to-publish podcast! With two tabletop microphones and headphones and an easy-to-use audio mixer, students can learn about and experiment with audio capture in a variety of settings and edit interviews, podcasts, and audio stories using readily available free apps.

This Kit Includes

• Two high-quality condenser microphones with tabletop stands
• Two professional studio headphones
• One professional multi-track audio mixer
• SD card & cables for file storage and exporting

360 Camera Kit

The 360 Camera Kit empowers students to experiment immersive photography and video capture for a variety of applications! Use the selfie stick to capture mobile content like virtual tours and vlogs, and use the standalone tripod to capture interactive 360 images and “performance-in-the-round” content. The kit includes a cell phone that connects to the camera and can be used as a wireless viewfinder as well as a microphone for high-quality audio capture.

This Kit Includes

• Insta360 X4 Camera + protective case
• iPhone viewfinder
• Selfie stick/tripod
• Microphone with camera adapter

Let’s Get Started!

After exploring our kit options and engaging with the project design tool, fill out this form to share your project idea and request your kits! When we receive your submission, we will be in touch to further refine your project idea so that we can make sure you have everything you need to feel supported in using the kits and leading your students to make media.