Movie making to the maximum

This past week our group has been producing videos at the same speed as a production corporation. We brainstormed a few ideas and then began experimenting. The first task we assigned ourselves was signing up for a Youtube account. Once the account was set, we went to the help section to further our knowledge. Then, with the camera recharged, we filmed a quick video called Fun with Flags, a spoof of the Big Bang Podcast of the same namesake.

After this first attempt was completed, after numerous retakes, we proceeded to make our next video for ICT class. Utilizing the camera in the classroom we shot a video with a hilarious script. We wanted to pay homage to the classical genre of antagonist and protagonist ragtime cinema. So the video proceeded with this idea in mind. After filming the various scenes we downloaded the video to iMovie. We had to familiarize ourselves with the program, which was relatively simple. We order the scenes and applied a black and white filter. Each of the individual scenes we silenced. We added title slides from iMovie that copied the ragtime feel and add our text. Then after the film was correct, we added background ragtime piano music from Jamendo, a site with free legal creative commons music. We were, to say the least, pleased with the final video.

Video production is relatively quick and easy. I would love to build lessons around video production. This activity is highly engaging, cooperative, and completely interactive. Students can feel real tangible pride in this form of creative production. Absolutely fun.

Digital Storytelling

Digital Storytelling is an excellent method for bringing course material alive with photos and music. In order to mix and render your voice over a soundtrack you need audacity, in order to save record sound as an MP3 relatively easily. You can also edit your recording as well! I will be using digital storytelling in the class in order to gain student interest and free up some time for me. My students can also learn to use these programs for presentations if they are too nervous to speak out load. I prefer using slide share because it allows you to upload a power-point that you can modify rather simply and upload a MP3 sound file you can time with your slides. But I have used some of the following for storytelling:

• Prezi
• goanimate.com
• Google Maps
• Comic Life
• Story bird
• Slide Share
• Windows Movie Maker
• Animoto

SmartBoard

The Smart-board is a central and essential piece of technology in most classrooms. This device allows the user numerous features, enables further technological integration, quick access to information, fast manipulation, allows cooperative student involvement, and student participation. I had experienced the Smart-board during my first placement and mainly just used it for Power point and writing student comments and notes. Students used the Smart-board when we played guessing games that involved drawing. I would give each student a card with something to draw related to the lesson I was teaching, it was an excellent method to engage students. The handwriting recognition on the board is extremely helpful with EAL students. I used this effectively with my EAL students and they really enjoyed interacting with the technology. The Smart-board is also excellent for basic things you want to show the class like searching the web and showing videos. So for sure I want a Smart-board in my class!

Social Bookmarking

Social bookmarking is an excellent way to organize a complex plethora of information relatively easily. You can add links that allow fast access from one site. Diigo, Symbaloo, and Pearl Tree are three bookmarking sites that I am now using. Pearl Tree is easily my favourite and the most user friendly. You can link pearls into related groups of information. I will definitely employ bookmarking in the classroom, in order to highlight and save important website that I or my students may use. My students may also do this to recall website that I deem useful or pertinent.