I viewed these videos from the Google Certified Teachers Google Group. There are so many videos of inspiration out there, some attached to companies or organizations. Regardless, the messages are worth considering.
WELCOME TO THE WORKSHOP! (this post will be updated)
Two areas were chosen for this workshop with the intent of being "over prepared" rather than "under prepared". The first area we'll tackle is Quicktime - a tool I find is simple and useful, but under utilized. The second, stop motion animation, has no doubt been used time and again, but doesn't get used so much due to what I think may be due to few chances to use the tools. Thus, for the stop motion portion I've deliberately incorporated iPhones and iPads.
QUICKTIME
Quicktime Player has three functions we'll look at today: New Movie Recording, New Audio Recording, and New Screen Recording. The audio and movie functions are similar to any audio and video recording functions. In Quicktime layer, the movie and screen recording functions can be used by teachers and students in many creative ways. In some instances, green screens are a lot of fun.
1. (screen) A students can be given a diagram, image, series of images to explain. (maps, diagrams, rules in sports)
2. (screen) A student can demonstrate how something is done within the computer. (ie) How to set up a Google Site.
3. (movie) The student draws a diagram / image as they explain something.
4. (movie) The student demonstrates how to do something in PE, Dance or Music classes. (ie) A (bad) example of a G-D-C chord progression on guitar, with three different "C chord" derivatives.
How would you use these two visuals?
Here is a list of ideas for screen casting. (source)
-Explain/Interpret... just about anything.
-Math processes & problem-solving
-Science concepts, events, digital microscope capture, browser-based activity,...
-Weather Forecasts (using weather map images and other online data)
-Map Skills (directions, scale, coordinates, ... Try it with GoogleMaps or Google Earth)
-Response to literature (book reviews, plot, theme, characterization, authors...)
-Reflecting on writing pieces or learning portfolio
-Reflect on field trips (verging on digital storytelling)
-Capture & narrate a web-based projects and tools like Google Sketchup, Google Earth,...
-Use screencasts in conjunction with the augmented reality app, Aurasma (ideas here). Create overlays
that play published screencast video when viewed with mobile device.
-Create a "Summer Learning" series that consists of short, fun, learning bytes
Stop motion is a lot of fun; finding the right learning goal is most likely the greater challenge. The key is to find a program that takes no time to film, so that students don't waste too much time on technology and spend more time focusing on the specific learning goal. (unless of course, the goal is learning to use the technology) Regardless, stop motion allows students to be creative, to collaborate, and demonstrate learning. Again, green screens are a lot of fun as well.
Here are two good articles on stop motion - one with a still camera - and a good article on stop motion in the classroom. (more will be added or synthesized)
Look at Jellycam. (Mac) It's free and easy to use. You may have to install Adobe Air also free and with a direct link on the site. Here is a YouTube demonstration.
For iPhone and iPad I like Stop Motion Studio - a free app that allows for embedding music and easy sharing. The "extras" cost, but you can simply edit in another editor if you so desire. Here is a demo:
There are several free tools, but almost all are trial-based. I have used I Can Animate*, which is simple. Take the shots, export the video, and edit in another editor (such as YouTube - easy and no copyright worries - the video below is a simple green screen effort). I Can Animate for Mac. I Can Animate for PC.
*There is a trial period for I Can Animate, and when it expires you cannot export. I deal with this by screen casting the video with Quicktime and cropping.
