Learning in Place

Place-based teaching and learning in SD61

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Media Arts in the Library

This week, we took a quick dip into Media Arts and got our toes wet with podcasts, video editing, audio set-ups, green screens, and more. Each of these would be so fun to incorporate into the LLC! The learning curve may be steep, so make sure you try it out a few times yourself before introducing it to students.

How would you build Media Arts into the LLC? Into a Makerspace?

Video Techniques

This video compiles some tips for shooting better videos, including:

  1. Paying attention to exposure
  2. Locking your exposure using AE/AF Lock
  3. Zooming In/Out while filming
  4. Manually selecting the subject to focus on

It also includes my first-ever attempt at GreenScreening. I used DoInk, which cost me $6.99 to download. It required me to select my background photos first, then allowed me to film over top of them. Lacking large pieces of paper or fabric in a uniform, bright colour, I had to use a towel in my bathroom… not the most glamorous of studios. Now that I’ve done it, I would definitely put more time into the pre-shooting phase, to plan out a little story and add graphics, then film myself (or my subject).

I can see how GreenScreening would be fun in the classroom! Just be sure to plan your story, images, and graphics ahead of time.

My patched-together video, using iMovie. All images and sounds are my own.

A Redesigned Library

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

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

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.

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

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