Learning in Place

Place-based teaching and learning in SD61

Category: EdTech (Page 2 of 6)

A Redesigned Library

1 August 2021 / / 3 Comments

I used Canva for this full presentation, including narration! This was a first, and I really enjoyed marrying my love of design with the practical elements of voice-over. Canva allowed me to include speaker’s notes for each slide so that I could read while recording. A small con was that I did not see how to include speaker’s notes until I was in record-mode, so I had to pause the recording to go through and type in all my notes, then resume recording.

After receiving some helpful feedback from colleagues, I’ve posted a video of my redesign challenge. As always, I welcome your critique and friendly feedback!

Re-Imagine Learning – a Mobile Makerspace design challenge for the 21st century learning library commons.

In case of difficulty viewing the embedded video, you can find the full presentation here.

I’ve included the tag-line “ReImagine Learning” throughout this slideshow, and it’s a phrase I’m considering branding for my future LLC. Some possible names for the mobile makerspace include:

  • Make-it Mobile
  • STEAM Cart (or STEAMobile)
  • Bob. (this one has no reason, it would just be funny)

Truthfully, I would entrust naming the Mobile Makerspace to our student body, through a month-long challenge from September-October.

Over to you:

What further information might you need in order to embark on this design challenge?

How was the pacing and flow of this presentation? What would you change?

References:

BC Curriculum. (2016). ADST K-5. https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/adst

BC Curriculum. (2016). Core Competencies. https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/competencies

Edutopia. (2018). Learning Problem Solving and Growth Mindset in a Makerspace. YouTube.com

IDEO. (2021). Design Thinking Defined. designthinking.ideo.com

ISTE. (2021). ISTE Standars for Educators. https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-teachers

Puentedura, R. (2015). SAMR: A brief introduction. hippasus.com/rrpweblog/

Sound Setup

1 August 2021 / / 2 Comments

I was tasked to make a simple sound booth this week in Tech Ed. We were given instructions on How to Make Your Own Sound Booth for Better Voice Overs from eLearning Brothers, which creates a rather spiffy looking sound booth (if not quite small). As I was in quite a pinch for time, I sought the simplest solution: a blanket over my head!

My voice with no sound set-up – recorded on my iPhone.
My voice with a blanket over my head – recorded on my iPhone.

I tested it out to make sure it worked, then went ahead and recorded the podcast from my previous post.

If I were to bring podcasting into my LLC, I would take the time to build some portable sound booths like the eLearning Brothers have suggested above. I love the idea of kids being able to take them outside and around the school.

In that vein, I would want a few microphones that are also portable, wireless, and that fit the library budget.

I found a couple options that I think I would pursue:

  1. Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone
A compact, handheld digital recorder with all of the features (and more) of an iPhone at a mere fraction of the price: $42 on Amazon (not that I would buy from Amazon, but it’s good to get a general sense of the price). At this price, I’d buy several for my LLC.

2. Blue Yeti USB Condenser Microphone

One of the easiest, and most popular microphones for podcasting. A quality mic for a reasonable amount. USB output for plug and play directly into the computer as well as XLR cable output for use with higher-end analogue equipment. Price is about $120, so I would purchase 2 of these for the LLC for the more dedicated podcasters.

These were found on discoverpods.com, in an article by Brian Benton titled 30 of the Best Podcast Microphones (For Any Budget).

Audio Editing

31 July 2021 / / 4 Comments

My first foray into podcasting! Get Hooked is a podcast devoted to “hooking” readers onto some of my favourite youth fiction. I read the first few pages and leave the rest for you to seek out at your local public library or book store.

Up first is “Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevedo.

“Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevedo. Music: The Vendetta by Stefan Kartenberg (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.

This was a journey. I pieced my audio together on GarageBand and did not find it to be an intuitive app. After stumbling around for a while on my own, I was very grateful to find the following tutorial on YouTube:

How to Record & Edit a Podcast in GarageBand (Complete Tutorial) by Pat Flynn

I had already recorded my sound bites using my phone’s Voice Recording app, so I AirDropped those onto my Mac, dragged them into GarageBand, downloaded and did the same with my music file. Then began the process of learning how to clip the music file and fade it in and out. Without Pat Flynn’s tutorial, I would have been lost.

Next step was to save the file as “Music”, download and open iMovie and drag my music file into a new project. I wanted a nice visual to go along with this, so I made one in Canva. My first didn’t fit the video dimensions, so I had to go back and try again.

Attempts 1 and 2 for my Get Hooked podcast logo. Made using Canva for Educators.

I saved my new iMovie and uploaded it to YouTube as an unlisted track.

Phew!

Now that I’ve done this, future attempts will be far easier. The learning curve was steep, and I was presented with many tech hurdles (like realizing that I had to update my computer in order to download GarageBand, and that I had to free up over 12 gigs of space to download the newest IOS version!).

Over to you:

Have you ever created podcasts with students? If so, what was that process like? If not, would you?

What are some challenges you foresee and how would you plan for them?

References:

Acevedo, Elizabeth. (2018). The Poet X. HarperTeens, Broadway, New York, NY. pgs. 3-4.

Flynn, Pat. (2018, 16 Feb). How to Record & Edit a Podcast in Garageband (Complete Tutorial). Accessed 31 Jul, 2021 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhesskgmIsQ

Kartenberg, Stefan. (2018) The Vendetta (c). copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/JeffSpeed68/58628 Ft: Apoxode

Video Examples – Stop Motion

27 July 2021 / / 0 Comments

I’m fascinated with stop motion videos and have found a selection of inspiration, provocation, and how-to videos on YouTube (using a Creative Commons search) that I would provide to staff if they were interested in trying it for themselves or with students.

Inspiration #1:

DISTORTION. A Stop motion Animation by Guldies. “2500 still pictures played at 24 frames per second. Shot with a Canon EOS 600D and animated in Dragonframe. The clay I used is called PLASTILINA. Everything edited in Photoshop CC and Sony Vegas Pro. Sound effects recorded with a Blue Yeti and also taken from freesound.org.”

Overview and How-To:

How to Make Stop Motion Videos from Science Filmmaking Tips

Inspiration #2:

LEGO Wild Western 2 (Stop Motion) by BrickBrosProductions

Brick Filming (LEGO stop-motion) How-To:

Guide to Lego Stop Motion from BrickBrosProductions

History, Context & Pop Culture:

The Eternal Appeal of Stop Motion Animation from Fandor

The makers of the videos posted here have also created additional inspiration, provocations, and how-to’s that I would encourage you to explore in your own time! Have fun falling down the rabbit hole 🙂

Screen Casting

27 July 2021 / / 4 Comments

I have the Chrome extension, “Screencastify” loaded on Google Chrome, which allows me to record my screen with microphone and camera options. I’ve used this a few times in my Education journey thus far, and am getting more comfortable with the options to Pause while filming to take a breath and gather my thoughts, edit the video once it’s made, rehearse my idea in advance so I don’t create quite as many flops…

This time, I chose to make a quick video to describe one of the Canva pieces I made for my Tracking post. This video very swiftly describes the “Styles” button on Canva. I then posted it as “unlisted” on my YouTube account, added manual subtitles for accessibility, and set up the usage rights that I felt comfortable with.

Embedded is the fruit of my experimentation.

Screencastify of Canva “Styles” feature. Created by Katrina Crawshaw.

I would 100% use Screencasting in my library to create How-To videos, describe my process, and quickly address common technical issues. I might invite kids to create their own How-To’s, ask teachers to walk me through technical issues they’re experiencing, and record workshops/presentations for sharing. I have also used and enjoyed the platform Loom to create screencast videos.

Over to you: What would you use Screencasting for in your library & teaching practice? What are some reservations you experience with this tool?

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