This month, our Adobe Express spotlight is on becoming an Empathetic Communicator. In an era of digital noise, helping students bridge the gap between their internal feelings and their impact on others is essential. To bring this theme to life, we are highlighting a powerful project from educator Ramona Abraham-Coley: Student Identity Short Videos.
She shares three easy-to-implement short video projects where students have to practice empathy and communication in a variety of ways.
- Students celebrate their voice, heritage, and community with The Sound of My Name video template.
- Students explore the locations around the world that influenced their identity with this Global Me storytelling video template.
- Students showcase a significant clothing item that reflects their heritage, religion, identity, or family narrative with this Threads of Me video template.
Bridging the Gap with Adobe Express
Empathetic communication begins with self-awareness. When students understand their own "why," they can more effectively share their stories with others. Using the intuitive video tools in Adobe Express, Ramona’s project encourages students to create short, punchy narratives that explore their unique backgrounds, values, and emotions.
How it works in the classroom:
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Identify the Feeling: Students start by reflecting on an aspect of their identity that is often "invisible" to others.
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Create the Connection: Using Adobe Express Video, students combine personal clips, icons, and voiceovers. This process forces them to consider how their creative choices—like music and pacing—affect the viewer's emotional response.
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Measure the Impact: By sharing these videos, students receive immediate feedback on how their peers perceived their message, helping them "close the loop" on communication.
Start Creating
By practicing vulnerability through video, students learn that their voices have the power to build bridges rather than walls. You can find Ramona Abraham-Coley’s full tutorial and more inspiration here: https://express.adobe.com/learn/tutorial/express%2Fedu%2Fedu-creator-ramona-abraham-coley?source=learn-main-page&playlist=playlist%2Fexpress%2Feducator-collections.
Challenge: Have your students create a 30-second "Identity Short" this week to practice sharing their perspective with empathy and clarity!