Beyond the Bricks and Mortar

 

Cayoosh Kidz record an News episode.

 

 

I’ve taken a break from writing report cards. Why don’t the people that design report card writing software ever think to ask a classroom teacher what they need? It drives me crazy when software developers produce substandard products that are less useful and more time consuming than paper and pen. People, we have the technology, get it right. However, all is not darkness and doom.

 

An interesting product that has just come out is the Owle http://www.wantowle.com/Welcome.html . It is an adapter for the iPhone and markedly improves the video quality. While this product is designed for the iPhone, the principle could be applied to any smartphone. A smartphone can become a useful information gathering and sharing tool. With online video editing such as Movie Masher http://www.moviemasher.com/ you can take decent video clips, edit, and share them on the web, in minutes. If you want to brush up on your video skills try Video 101 http://www.video101course.com/Editing/e_50.html

 

Copyright is always a thorny issue when you are trying to illustrate a blog or some other work you want to share with a public audience. There is always creative commons which allows certain uses of images. Flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/grade5/ offers such a service. I recently found a site that claims no copyright and has a selection of excellent photos http://aksinya.wordpress.com/ .

 

The connected classroom project has started to use Moodle http://moodle.org/ . Moodle is the FaceBook of education. It is part of an emerging class of social media that has the potential to change the way children are educated.  Moodle offers a way to manage all the tasks that teachers and students need to accomplish in a totally digital format. Moodle is not perfect but it is functional. Colleagues at my school are beginning to transfer all their assignments onto Moodle. With Moodle, a Smartboard, Bridgit and Elluminate we can provide a powerful educational experience without paper and possibly without a bricks and mortar classroom.

 

Well I guess it is time to get back to the report cards. Writing the blog has reminded me of all the great technology available and has restored my faith in the web 2.0 future. Hopefully, by this time next year I can report that report card writing has left the dark ages behind.

Cayoosh Kidz at the Restoration Site

Learning by teaching others in a teaching train

This week Cayoosh Kidz walked down to the restoration site for a field day.  Part of the educational component was a teaching train – where two students at each station were taught something about local animals, plants or the restoration work done by the team.  They then in turn taught their classmates as they moved through the “train”.  It was fun and a great way for students to learn from each other.

Kim North and Odin Scholz along with the dedicated restoration team showed the kids what they did at the site and then taught them how they could help out too. Students volunteered to do a number of jobs including planting over 56 native shrub species.

It was rewarding to hear students saying “this was one of our best days yet!” as they laboured to restore the site.

The Power House Restoration Project is a partnership between BC Hydro’s Bridge Coastal Restoration Program, the Lillooet Naturalist Society and Cayoosh Creek Band.

If you would like to see a short video of the day’s activities go to www.cayooshkidz.net and select video, then click on “Foreshore Restoration Day”.

Three Steps to Connection

Ms. Mulholland guides the students in a self discovery lesson.

We took three major steps forward this week linking our Connected Classrooms. The first event was the successful hosting by Aislinn Mulholland of a Reading Power lesson. This will be followed by several more lessons as she develops the theme of Connecting with the students. I think we were all impressed by the degree of engagement shown by the kids. They eagerly participated, and there were no behavior issues, which is a sure sign of good teaching.

Bridgit http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/Bridgit/ is a software package that allows for remote sharing of SMART Boards. Simultaneous transfer of information among the classrooms is key to the success of our endeavour. The system worked well. Audio sharing remains a challenge, but we suspect that it is a server issue. It is magic to watch the conference screen as your desktop or SMART Board content appears at the other remote locations.

The greatest success of the week was the Friday Connected Classroom rendezvous. Kids travelled to Ashcroft to participate in a day designed to create bonds of friendship. Bonds that we will use to accelerate the virtual connections back in the classroom. It is hard to grasp how much the day meant to the students unless you are familiar with the isolation of a small rural community. Again Aislinn did a magnificent job of orchestrating the day with both planned activities and adequate free time. From the nervous kids that filed into the Ashcroft gym to confident friends, the transformation was amazing.

Students are beginning to use multimedia to document and share their experiences with each other and the world. This week Cayoosh Kidz created an October news video

http://www.vimeo.com/6908719 , a field trip video http://www.vimeo.com/7017080 and a photographic essay of their adventures http://www.flickr.com/photos/grade5/ . All told it was a good week for Connecting Classrooms.

Connecting Classrooms – Bravely Going Where No Classroom Has Gone Before

Technology brings a tide of disruptive innovation.

We just finished our three day planning session for the Connected Classroom project. We are embarking on a process of connecting three rural classrooms with each other and the world via the internet. Each class has been allocated a set of laptops, a suite of video conferencing programs, a room with conferencing cameras, and a SMART Board interactive whiteboard. Technical support for this program is in place and just about every detail has been thought of and addressed including a steady supply of home baked goodies from our lead principal Teresa Downs.

While no one likes to give up summer holidays these past three days have been very good. The first day we looked at the research around the subject and began the process of developing a shared view. Collaboration is going to be the key to this project. We are team teaching at a distance. Team teaching always requires meaningful consultation, how much more when you are physically isolated. One of the first things we did was set out a schedule of virtual meetings to keep in close contact with everyone on the team.

Our second day was a hands-on exploration of the hardware, software and intellectual process of connecting over a distance. I had some trepidation about the tools that we were being given, but that soon turned into excitement as the usability and power of them became evident. Using the video conferencing system was an easy combination of turning on a TV and making a phone call. We spent an hour or so playing with the video conferencing system and came away confident that that we could make it work.  We also had expert instruction from Tracy Ramsay on Elluminate Live. Elluminate is a virtual meeting software solution that is full of features that allow groups to have web based meetings at no cost. Bridgit, a conferencing software package, allows the remote use of a SMART Board at a distance. Our brains were brimming over with information, but it was clear that we had the necessary tools. The rest of the day was spent focusing on ensuring that these tools would be used to meet the needs of our students in this revolutionary digital age.

Our final day was spent planning. We developed a shared vision of expectations for both students, educators and administrators involved. We created a scope and sequence for a process that we had never experienced and could barely imagine. We set out schedules for meetings and blocked off time in our timetables for instruction. We sketched out the content that we would like to cover and set goals to implement instructional strategies. It was pretty heady stuff for mid August!

In the end we left with a feeling that we were embarking on one of the most exciting educational and professional adventures of our careers. We felt confident that the tools were in place, and that we were part of a team that would create amazing learning opportunities for students unimagined ten years ago. And yes on this voyage of discovery there might be the odd challenging Klingon to deal with, but we would overcome and triumph. Now does anyone remember where the USB microphone plugs in?

A Refugee from Fire

It is summer and there is time to regroup technologically. Through a series of happy coincidences I now have a Macbook Pro, iPod Touch, JVC 100u and a the Final Cut Studio Three to explore. It is enough to make my head spin. Learning how to use Final Pro will take years. Hopefully the creative output will be worth the time and expense.

My learning has been interrupted because the town where I live, Lillooet, has been evacuated. Wild fire threatens from three sides and we have all been forced to leave. Our family is fortunate to have accommodating family to stay with, others are not so lucky. For all of us there is a disquieting sense of being refugees.

Global warming may be playing a contributing role in our community’s drama. We are seeing unprecedented drought combined with high temperatures. The forests are littered with dead pine trees caused by winters too warm to kill the pine beetles infesting them. Our glaciers around Lillooet are disappearing at an alarming rate. Access to clean drinking water is a hot topic in many communities, including my own. Supplies dwindle as issues of access and cost loom larger. We live in interesting times.

What does this have to do with the bundle of new technology that I have to learn? Well it is about purpose. Social sustainability, environmental integrity and Web 2.0’s ability to promote these issues are what I intend to focus on over the coming months, both in creative productions and blogging. In the mean time when I wait hopefully to return to a home still intact I will explore mobile computing.

A Creativity Jag

Sunset

 

 

Sometimes I wonder what creativity is and where it comes from. When we ask kids to produce a video, or any content for that matter, we ask them to engage in a creative process.

 Given even a moderately supportive environment, kids usually jump at the chance to express themselves. But where does that creative spark come from and what is it? Is there something innate that compels us to make content? And is that followed by a drive to learn better techniques to make the content more expressive and beautiful?

The creative process obviously takes many forms. A story can be placed in the color, form and texture of a weaver’s rug, a medium that suggests rather than tells. It can be in the grainy image of a photograph, which provides only half a story, forcing us to complete the narrative. Or, it can be a video, more explicit, but still only a rippled reflection of reality.
 
The learning of techniques, the study of content, the artful presentation and finally a mystical spark that breathes life into our efforts is as close as I can come to a description of the creative process.

 And what got me started on this ‘creativity jag’ you might ask? Well I just finished a book titled Unleash Your Creativity by Rob Bevan and Tim Wright. There were 52 chapters full of suggestions. Some of them seemed to be worth a try. Here is a list of ones that I want to have a go at.

•  Build a file of inspirational resources
• Create arbitrary rules to work by and then break them
• Write a slogan
• Restrict your choice of materials (painters might only use blue)
• Look at things from another perspective (haul out the step ladder)
• Copy the very best in your field
• Network with other creative types
• Seek out specific criticism (Tell me one thing that works for you.)
• Make mistakes faster and you will learn more.

 And if you are still hungry for more creative fare try: http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/000932.html

Chasing the Technological Dragon

           

Wildish Mountain Kids

             Technology is a magical dragon all flight and fire. We the users are often left running along on the ground far behind the beast trying to catch up with it.

 

As an elementary school teacher I try to incorporate multimedia into the curriculum. It gives voice to student’s work and shares it with a wide audience. To that end we have been successful. Cayoosh Kidz, our website, has just passed the 100 000 mark with visits and viewings. Not bad for a bunch of wildish mountain kids. Sometime next week we will have a party to celebrate that success, and set our new goals, but back to the dragon.

 

Video is the heart of new media. Its growth on the web has been exponential! When Cayoosh Kidz started a couple of years ago there were only a handful of places where a video could be posted. Six months after we started there were hundreds, now there are thousands.

 

This growth of the video phenomenon is not without problems. For every good video clip there are hundreds of bad ones. These are bad for many reasons: sexism, drugs, violence, or just ill-conceived worthless content. Some days Youtube  feels like the Wild West, not a place you would like to bring children. TeacherTube is a much safer bet.

 

As a teacher, creating worthwhile content is a huge challenge. However, there are resources we can learn from to improve the work that we produce. I was delighted with the instructional videos found at B&H this week.  B&H is the international candy store of multimedia. You might call it the dragon’s layer. You won’t be wasting time looking at the online resource Teaching Online Journalism either.

 

 We are in a time of incredible transformation of video technology. Everything is changing and will continue to change for several years. Video cameras are recording in formats that the editing software can’t yet decode.  And editing software is making power demands on computers that they weren’t designed for. This creates headaches and frustration at every level, and the solutions are usually expensive.  It takes several thousand, if not tens of thousands of dollars to be able to shoot and edit in true HD (high definition) video. This is an amount far beyond what the average school budget can afford. HD video editing can be done, but you are really running to catch that dragon. The practical solution is to shoot and edit in the more compact SD (standard definition) video format.

 

And what about Cayoosh Kidz’ next goal? We have been tossing around one million hits by the end of next year. It’s got a nice ring to it. Over the next few posts I will discuss how we intend to reach that goal. Hey, did you see which way that dragon went?

 

How-to-videos are always winners!

 

Instructional videos have enduring popularity. Not only are they viewer favorites but they provide opportunities for students to learn important storytelling skills.

 

This week’s video project is about making a diorama. Dioramas are powerful tools for learning and represent a lot of hands-on fun. The genesis of our diorama came from a class novel. My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George, is a yarn about Sam who runs away to live in the wilderness. After reading the book, the diorama provided great opportunities for group discussion about the story. Place, characters, and plot came alive for many students for the first time.

 

Our video was filmed after the students had created their first diorama. They had become experts! We used Cayoosh Kidz’ patented technique for creating a storyboard, which is a popular how-to video in its own right (11 265 hits), to plan this video. It took about 40 minutes to deconstruct the process of making a diorama, and then deciding the sequence of scenes necessary to explain the process. Our storyboard included scene layout, screenplay, camera angles and talent. Because everyone had a concrete idea of what we would do, we found that shooting went very smoothly. This was the first time I had filmed with this group so I needed to take an active role in the whole process. The students are taking more ownership in their next production.

 

Quiet! Is there a quiet space in a school? You can hear the hum of the classroom furnace, kids moving in the hallway, and some traditional First Nations drumming in the back ground of the video. Our second technical filming concern was to get enough light on the set. We worked near windows, used auxiliary lights and reflecting boards to boost the visual quality of each scene.

 

The kids were very enthusiastic about the final product and are now keenly writing a mystery about cyber-bullying. From their first draft I can say it won’t be for the squeamish. Going through the process of telling a video story helped the students to examine all their writing for logical flow of ideas. They gained confidence, experience in public presentation, and a sense of worth as they watched their video on the internet and saw that hundreds of others enjoy it too.

Top Seven Tips for Multimedia Storytelling – What really works!

 

Classroom teachers don’t have time to mess around with technology that doesn’t work. If multimedia is going to become a powerful learning tool in our classrooms we need to use the tools and techniques that will provide fast and efficient work flow.

 

Tip #1 Dump the Tapes

 

Shoot with a camera or camcorder that uses flash memory. Dump the tapes and mini-disks! You will save hours of time and headaches. Flash memory can be directly transferred to your computer and moved into an editing program.  Besides time, you will also save money by not buying consumable recording media.

 

Tip #2 Shoot Smart – No editing

 

Digital editing is creative, but it sucks time out of your busy life! Try to capture video in one long take – no editing required. While there is no question that editing improves the quality of a video, what you really want to do is share creative content. You will be able to do more of that if you don’t have to take the time to edit.

 

Tip #3 Storyboard Your Shooting Sequences

 

If you are going to edit, carefully plan your shots. Take the time to create a storyboard and plan a logical shooting sequence. You will save a ton of time editing your work later.

 

Tip #4 Buy Software That Works

 

While it is possible to produce impressive projects with free software, there is usually a reason that it is free. If you are serious about producing regular multimedia content then purchase industry standard software that efficiently does the job.  If you are using a PC try Adobe Premiere Elements or on a Mac look at Final Cut Express. These programs work, have lots of great features and provide a stepping stone to more advanced tools.

 

Tip #5 Use a Powerful PC

 

Video editing takes computing power! You will need a newer machine with enough ram memory. Nothing frustrates the creative impulse as much as a constantly crashing computer when you are trying to piece together your video masterpiece.

 

Tip #6 Come Prepared

 

Plan before you shoot.  Time is always limited, so when you do get your 30 minute period to produce a video make sure you have all the materials that you need.

 

Tip #7 TeacherTube

 

Avoid using your own website to host the video. Mount your video on a site like TeacherTube or Vimeo then put a link on your own website or blog. This saves both time and money as you will be charged extra if your site’s traffic exceeds the specified limit.

 

Telling multimedia stories is about creating efficient work flow. You want to focus your energy on telling stories and sharing content, not getting bogged down with inefficient tools and techniques.

Technology Fail

 

We have all had one of those days – arrive at work early with a to-do list optimistic beyond reason only to find that you were greeted by a technological failure.

 

Perhaps if I was more attuned I might have seen a premonition in my porridge (It’s been a long time since I looked into the entrails of a goat). But I didn’t, so the collapse of my attendance program took me by complete surprise. Let me state up front that there is no love lost between me and that program. Who tests these things before they are shipped? I have visions of Bill Gates clones fresh from programming in some geeky computer language, glancing at this the attendance site and giving it the OK, before moving on to playing some esoteric online game. What happened to teacher evaluation!

 

It takes 35 minutes to get the program set up to do attendance. I am in a foul mood, have zero prep done for the morning, and lost several holy stars. Apart from being ambushed at recess by other frustrated attendance takers wanting help, the day goes well, until the evening.

 

I look at successful bloggers and I look at my blog. They have widgets, applications, badges and readers; I don’t. I devote myself to remedying the situation. In the end nothing works out, or I chicken out of downloading a third party application guaranteed  to be a killer app because I fear that it might harbor malicious viruses that would cause naked men to dance across my computer or something.

 

Never mind it is only 8:03 pm and I have a video to edit – Killer Spiders of the Equipment Room. Editing is a meditation and a creative release; time passes unnoticed. But at 9:34 pm and with the 30 odd clips edited together I go to save and the system crashes. Bill Gates comes to mind again. I stop working on the computer, thinking it’s possibly forever.

 

What have I learned from the day?

 

1. Technology comes with unexpected surprises, some good and some bad.
2. I need to learn more HTML – you need to keep learning to be successful.
3. I can’t blame software or hardware for failing when it wasn’t designed to handle the computing load put on it; therefore I need to buy new software and hardware.

 

Now the only question is: Mac or PC?