Kathleen M. Rey
March 5, 2009
Emerging Technologies Design
FIFTH GRADE VODCASTS
Identification of the Problem
Learning that is meaningful enhances retention of the content. Using traditional teaching
strategies can be enhanced by grabbing the learner’s interest with the use of technology.
Students also need to be exposed to the solving of real-life problems in real-life ways.
Columbia Middle School’s administration and 5th grade teachers have identified the need
for a better transition to the middle school setting. It is not just the 5th graders incoming
that make the transition, but transfer students as well.
During the summer, the guidance counselor, Mrs. Leingang, provides new students with
classes to acclimate themselves to their new environment. Things such as where to go in
the morning, how to hand in lunch money, how to open a locker, and how to get my
homework are new to students coming from our elementary school. These procedures
will be new for any student. Not everyone will be able to attend the classes offered in the
summer either because of scheduling conflicts or because classes fill quickly. In an effort
to enhance Mrs. Leingang’s classes and provide a resource for those that can’t attend, this
project was born.
Our current 5th grade class will be creating vodcasts from the drawing board though the
editing process. At this time, it is undecided if they will assist the uploading of the
vodcasts, due to time constraints only.
Technology was once seen as just fun, but the picture of college and university campuses
is changing. The classroom is expanding and podcasts and vodcasts are becoming a big
part of post-secondary school. Students are increasingly getting education online or
extending class through podcasting, downloading information, posting online. We must
expose as much technology to the learner to better prepare them for their educational
career after high school.
Overview
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The 5 Grade Vodcasts project has been written to create vodcasts to assist incoming 5th
graders and transfer students. It is primarily geared toward the student coming from
Parkview Elementary School, our elementary school, but is intended for students new to
the district as well. The unit is planned for 8 classes. The first 4 classes will be with just
the 5th graders with the writing and recording of the vodcasts video and audio. The
second 4 classes will be with the 5th graders and 7th grade mentor students as well.
The 5th graders will begin their vodcasts with storyboards. They will draw the intended
scene and write the narration. They will learn how to use the Flip cameras and steady the
device for easier viewing of the video. The narration will be recorded into the BLUE
Snowball Condenser USB Microphone which will provide crystal clear sound. The
narration will be recorded into Audacity and then imported into Movie Maker with the
video footage. The editing will take place with 7th grade students which have been
identified as “techies.” If time allows, the students will assist with the posting of the
vodcasts online. If not, the instructor will post them online and notify the students and
parents of the debut date.
Learner Environment
The Learner
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Age Group: 5 Graders will primarily complete this activity with assistance from
7th graders.
Each student will have previous experience as a new student to CMS and be
sympathetic to other new students.
The Classroom
The unit is designed to be an after school program or a regular classroom activity.
The classroom for this activity will have 1 computer per group of 2-3 students.
There will be 5 groups of 2 students for the first 4 classes.
There will be 5 groups of 3 students for the last 4 classes.
Each computer will have internet access and Microsoft Office 2003, Audacity,
Movie Maker.
The classroom will be equipped with large tables or desks that can be combined
for group work. Preferably, a computer lab will be available.
The classroom will have access to a BLUE Snowball Condenser USB
Microphone.
The classroom will have access to 5 Flip cameras
Goals and Objectives
Goal:
The learner will know how to make vodcasts for incoming CMS students to assist
transitional anxiety.
The learner will demonstrate proper etiquette for a professional presentation.
Objectives:
Learner will create storyboards for the development of the vodcast.
Learner will demonstrate use of Audacity and Movie Maker.
Learner will operate Flip cameras to make steady video.
Learner will explain solutions to transitional problems for the new student.
Learner will demonstrate proper voice for optimal recording levels.
Agenda
Day 1: 60 Minutes
Prior to the first meeting, students will return district permission form
(attached)
Introduction Class, Brainstorming and Storyboards
Brief introductions of the purpose of the class.
o Brainstorm problems with transition to middle school.
o Teacher will write the “problems” on the white board.
o Students will reflect on transitional issues with short open discussion.
o Students and teacher will discuss the classes from the summer.
Who was there?
What did you learn?
Were they helpful?
What would you change? What would you keep the same?
Teacher-led discussion of podcasts and vodcasts.
o Podcasts are: Audio postings on the internet that can be downloaded
onto iPods or other MP3 players.
o Vodcasts are: Podcasts with video
Students will be presented with Rubric (attached) and the teacher will review it
with the students.
Choose partners randomly, by drawing names.
Choose topics for vodcasts randomly, by drawing from a hat.
o Topics are:
Where to go in the Morning
Dismissal
Bus kids
Pick-up Kids
Opening your locker
Lunch Procedures
How to pay
Lining up
Choices (Salad bar, alternative entrée)
Seconds
Recess Procedures
Cleaning up after yourself
Shelves
Retrieving Homework
Homework carousel
Website
Homework Hotling
Resources if you have a problem
Parents and Teachers
Each other
Guidance Counselor and Administration
Teacher will record assignments on Vodcast Assignment Sheet (attached)
Students will complete storyboards (attached)
o Each frame is a “segment” for their vodcast.
o Each frame will have corresponding narration for the vodcast.
Students will hand in their storyboards to the teacher.
Day 2: 60 Minutes
Using Flip Cameras
Teacher will demonstrate “bad” recording by showing a sample video.
After video is completed, students will discuss the things that they saw that were
not pleasing to the eye; things that made the video difficult to watch.
Teacher will list these things on the white board.
Teachers and students will discuss solutions to the problems.
Demonstration of the Flip Camera
o Hold the camera steady by stabilizing the arm with the camera with the
other arm.
o Review the buttons:
Power Button
Record Button
Play/Pause Button
Delete Button
Zoom In (in record mode)/Volume Up Button (in play mode)
Zoom Out (in record mode)/Volume Down Button (in play
mode)
Skip Buttons
Students will receive their storyboards back.
Students will record one video for each slide on their storyboard.
o Students will allow 2 seconds dead air at the beginning and end of
each video.
o Students will not speak and record as quietly as possible.
o Students will hold the cameras steady.
o Students will take turns recording with their partners.
o Students will record on their paper storyboard who records each
segment with the Flip camera.
Students will upload videos to their desktop on the computer.
o Create folder in “My Documents” that are named “Vodcasts”
o Within the “Vodcast” folder, create folders that are named “Audacity
Files,” “Flip Files,” “MovieMaker File.”
o Plug the camera into the computer
o When prompted, copy to the “Flip Files” folder
o Rename the videos. Teacher will suggest naming them as “segment 1,
segment 2, etc.
Day 3: 60 Minutes
BLUE Snowball Microphone Recording
Begin class with praise for work done so far.
Teacher will review Audacity.
o Show 12 minute tutorial video from:
http://www.learningplace.com.au/deliver/content.asp?pid=37506
o Emphasize that they will mostly be concerned with the “vcr/dvd”
buttons for using Audacity.
o Speak clearly, at a good rate, and keep the volume consistent.
o Push the record button to begin, wait a second, record, wait a second,
push the stop button to stop.
o Select File, Export as MP3
o Save into “Audacity Files.”
o Teacher will encourage them to save the files as “segment 1,”
“segment 2,” etc.
Distribute stopwatches.
Distribute paper storyboards.
Students will log onto their computer desktop (whichever student’s desktop that
was used to save the Flip video).
Time each segment and record its length on the paper storyboard.
Students will refer to their storyboard to decide who will narrate each segment.
o The narrator will be the student who did not record the video.
Students will rehearse and time the narration for their partners in 5th grade
commons area.
When students are ready to record, partners will enter the 5th grade computer lab.
Remaining students will be notified that recording is in process and not allowed to
enter the lab during recording. If students are present in the lab already, they may
remain, but my not be near those recording or speaking loudly in the lab.
Students will open Audacity on their computer.
Students will record each segment.
Students will save as described above.
Day 4: 60 Minutes
Movie Maker
Students will open MovieMaker on their computer.
Students will create “rough draft” movies by:
o Importing video segments to MovieMaker storyboard.
Under Capture Video, select Import Video, select Desktop,
select My Documents, select Vodcasts, select Flip Files, select
Segment 1, Segment 2, etc.
Click and drag segments into storyboard.
o Importing narration files to MovieMaker storyboard.
Under Capture Video, select Import Audio or Music, select
Desktop, select My Documents, select Vodcasts, select
Audacity Files, select Segment 1, Segment 2, etc.
o Selecting and importing transitions into MovieMaker storyboard.
Select View, select Timeline, click and drag desired transition
to desired location on the timeline, between video segments.
Save File (as name of vodcast) and locate it in the Vodcasts folder in the
MovieMaker File.
In the task pane, click on “Save to My Computer.”
Name the Vodcast. Example: Lunchroom Procedures
Browse to save to Vodcast File.
Click “Next.”
MovieMaker will suggest the compression setting for the
computer. Click “Next.” It will take awhile to save.
Click “Finish” and the video will play on the computer.
The session will end with watching “Editing Tutorial” found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZXK68NS7gU
Day 5-8: 60 Minutes Each
Editing
The first session will begin with introductions of 7th grade mentor students and 5th
grade students.
Seventh grade students will be paired with 5th grade teams by the teacher.
Student teams will receive an Editing Sheet (attached)
The tasks listed for editing can be done in the order of choice for students.
Optional: Video, “Editing Tutorial” found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZXK68NS7gU will be shown as refresher.
Under the supervision of the teachers (school technology teacher will assist),
students will further edit vodcasts.
Background music will be added by:
o Students will select a cd from the “Back Traxx 2 Music Library” and
place it in the cd drive.
o In the Capture Video task pane, click on “Import Music or Audio.”
o Navigate to the cd drive, and select music of choice from “Back Traxx
2 Music Library.”
o Click on music file.
o Click import. It will be placed in the Collection View.
o Click on the music file in the Collection Window and drag it to the
audio/music portion of the timeline.
o If the track is longer than the video, click on the right hand side of the
music track I the timeline and drag it to match the length of the video.
Titles and Credits will be added by:
o Click on the Tasks button
o Click on: Titles or Credits
o Click on “Add to the beginning,” “Title before the selected Clip,” or
“Credits at the end of the Clip.” (Title and credits are required on all.
Titles before clips are required if Vodcast addresses more than one
topic.)
o Type in the title. Example: Lunchroom Procedures at the beginning of
the Lunchroom Procedures Vodcast. It will show in the preview
window.
o Under more Options, animation and text can be manipulated.
Click on Change the animation and choose the desired
animation effect. Preview different animations in the
preview window.
Click on Change the text font and color to manipulate
font style, color and size in the task pane.
When finished, Click “Done, add title to movie.”
The length of the Flip video clips will be shortened by:
o Click on Show Timeline Button
o Click on the clip that is to be trimmed.
o Go to the preview window and scroll to the part to start editing.
o Click on the Clip Menu and select “set start trim point.”
o Go back to the preview window and scroll to the point to stop editing.
o Click on the Clip Menu and select “set end trim point.”
Uploading the Vodcasts
The sessions will end with saving the vodcast as stated in Day 3, logging off and
shutting down the computers.
The completion of the Vodcasting unit will come when the vodcasts are uploaded
to the district website. This is currently not part of the unit plan. It will be
completed by the graduate student, school technology teacher, and district
technology director.
Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation for Students: Rubric for Vodcast criteria (see 5th Grade Vodcasting Rubric,
attached).
Evaluation for Program: Student Evaluation Form of Program (see Student Evaluation of
Program, attached).