Screencasting

Ever wonder how they make tutorials on YouTube where the video shows a screen of what you are doing on the computer with integrated narration?

It is called Screencasting.

Ways to incorporate screencasting into your classroom: 

• Live Screencasts - for flipped classrooms and review videos
• Record your presentation as you teach it.  Post it for a review that the students can access or save it for next year and try "flipping" your classroom for a unit or two.  No out-of-class time required on the educator's part.
• Students who miss class - 
•  If you know there will be many students out for a school trip, or if you have students in programs such as Crossroads, it can be very time consuming attempting to write out your explanations of concepts and/or directions.  Create a screencast to save time and promote comprehension.
• Sub Plans -
• If you want to keep your class on track while you are away.  Record a presentation of the lecture or notes.  Also explain any assignments so that you are sure your class gets the message.
• Student projects - 
• For large classes, it can be time-consuming to have everyone present their PowerPoint or Google Slides show to the class.  Rotate who gives their presentation live and who screencasts it with each unit project.
• Peer tutoring videos - 
• Have your advanced students create tutorials that you can post on a platform such as Google Classroom.  It perhaps would be motivating to hear it explained from a peer.
• Digital Grading - 
• Assess student presentations and projects by creating a screencast where you offer audible commentary and feedback.  
• Co-worker assistance - 
• Use screencast to show a member of your department how to use one of your wonderful ideas.

Screencastify is a Free Google Chrome Extension.  

It is easy to install.  

I made a quick screen cast to show you how to get the extension and how to set your microphone and settings.

Once your have the extension and your settings ready to go,  you can do your first Screencast.  

Here is a Screencast showing you how to create a screencast...  

Here is a screencast of one of my Flipcharts.  (I will speak in English for you!  Well ... a little bit.)

And finally a screencast of what to do once you have finished recording - including where to find it and how to share it.

Screencasting Tip:

* Don't try to make your videos perfect.  The software is a one-take system; so you can't edit.  If you make a mistake, correct yourself on the video.  It just shows that teachers are human too.

How can you see yourself using Screencastify or another screencasting software in your classroom?

Comment below.

This week I am going to talk about iMovie, which is an app available on Mac operating systems.  With that said, this post is mainly for teachers who have access to ipads in the classrooms.  This app allows users to create movies and movie trailers for various types of projects by using video clips, photos, and music. 

Students really enjoy using this app because it is fun and exciting to create movies (almost like a game to them) but at the same time they are demonstrating content material they have learned. 

Play video to see an example of an iMovie trailer created by elementary students:

 

Below are some example of how you can use iMovie in the classroom:

1- Create engaging presentations
This is probably the primary function of iMovie. Apple designed iMovie in such a way that it becomes next to impossible for any other software developer to beat it. The presentations created by iMovie are highly distinguished and are ideal for classroom teaching. Show your students how to create presentations using pictures, text, and sound and let them experiment with its different features

2- Create How to Videos
iMovie can be used for creating tutorials and guides for students.. Teachers can create a how-to iMovie around a concept taught in the classroom and students can then burn it into a disc or load it into an iPod and take it home and practice it with the appropriate instruction. It can also be uploaded into the classroom blog for everyone to access any time they want. This is also a great way to help those students who were unable to attend the class when the concept was taught.

2- Create Video reports
Students can use iMovie to create high-quality video reports to demonstrate their comprehension of abstract concepts.

3- Provide out-of school experiences
Both teachers and students can use iMovie to document and record events outside of the school and that has relevance to the units being taught in the classroom e.g., field trips . These iMovies can be brought to the classroom and shared with the whole class.

4- Use iMovie for classroom projects
Using iMovie in classroom projects is a great way to promote a culture of collaboration and co-operation among students. They can work in groups to create iMovies that includes text, photos,and sound to represent their projects. While watching works of others, students can have the chance of giving feedback to their peers.

5- Digital story telling
Students can use iMovie to tell stories using digital media including pictures, images, and music. This can improve their verbal fluency and their communicative skills.

6- Create book trailers/reports
Students can use iMovie to create engaging book trailers and this is how they can do it:

• Read a book
• Create a summary of the book
• Plot summary on story board
• Select images to match student writing
• Use iMovie to create book trailer
• Enhance it with music and transitions

Below is a trailer created as a wrap-up and reflection project for an in-class skit based on a short story that we read.

 

An Hour of Code

...coming soon to a device near you!

I was first introduced to the Hour of Code during its inception in 2013. Computer coding/programming was not something I was familiar with, but trying it out for an hour with my 5th grade students seemed like something that would be easy enough to do. Not only were my students and I instantly hooked, but coding has become one of my favorite ways to integrate technology into the classroom!

The vision behind the Hour of Code is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science. One week a year is dedicated to encouraging students, teachers, schools, and districts to give computer programming a try. Check out this brief video from Hadi Partovi, the mastermind behind the Hour of Code and developer of code.org:

The organizers of this event have compiled a wealth of resources and coding activities that are appropriate for students from kindergarten through high school. No experience necessary! These activities are truly meant to take just one hour, but if you're short on time, they can be tailored to fit your needs. Worried about devices? There are Hour of Code tutorials that work on PCs, smartphones, tablets, iPads, and some that require no computer at all. 

Even though you may not be a computer science, math, or technology teacher, coding may still be something you can incorporate into your classroom. Some compelling reasons to integrate coding include helping students develop and strengthen:

• problem solving skills
• logical thinking
• collaboration
• creativity
• perseverance
• and learning that it's okay to fail

Additionally, it is estimated there will be more than one million computing jobs available by the time the year 2020 rolls around. Why not help our students get a jump start on their futures and be ready to take their place in a 21st century world?

Mark your calendars! December 7-13 has been designated as the week to try an Hour of Code with students. If you can't do it during that week, feel free to introduce code to your students at any time. The idea is just to give millions of students an introduction to computer science and to show them that anybody can learn the basics! If you're interested in participating, you can visit the Hour of Code website to register and learn more: https://hourofcode.com/us (There are prizes for every event organizer and participating classrooms have a chance to win even bigger prizes!)

Eduspire, a continuing education company, is offering a free webinar focused on the Hour of Code. It will take place November 18th from 7-8 pm. If you read this blog post and thought to yourself, "There is no way I can teach programming," or if you're just itching to learn more, maybe this free webinar is for you! Click here to register or here for additonal details.

What happens after the Hour of Code, when you and your students want more? Beyond the Hour of Code will be an upcoming blog post with more coding/programming resources.

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail a tech coach. Thoughts on how you might incorporate the Hour of Code into your classroom? Please post a comment below!

Digital Timelines with hstry.co

A few weeks ago, I came across the lesson plan that said:

Formal Assessment:  Timeline depicting Cuba's history from Columbus' Arrival - Present

Timelines are a famous teaching/assessment tool.  However, for me their organization and presentation was always cumbersome.  

Students had posters as long as your chalkboard with writing as small as chalkdust. 

 The dates were the focus instead of what actually occured.  






Once technology rolled in, timelines still remained awkward with broken PP links and motion-sickness causing Prezi's that made it difficult to see the "big picture".  Even still we were limited for some time to: dates, text and pictures.  All this requiring at minimum a week in the computer lab.

Now hstry.co provides a simple click-and-add platform that requires little to no training to use.  

Easily embed text, pictures, audio, questions, video and more.  

All while logging in with your smdutch.net account or through Edmodo.

Click here to see an example I made for SMASD teachers.  
(displays one example of each item that can be added to a hstry.co timeline)


Click here to see an example my students made.  

(Below)This is an example of the framework with which a teacher or student would start.  

Add and delete elements as necessary.

Click here to see a description of each of the elements and other FAQ.

A student guide is found here:

https://www.hstry.co/timelines/a-student-s-guide-to-hstry

Finally don't forget that hstry.co timelines are great ways to present information to your class.  

Don't want to reinvent the wheel?  Search, copy and/or edit an existing timeline.

See this timeline that teaches "Determining the Main Idea" in a story.

Timelines aren't just for history teachers anymore.  Comment below with a way you think you could use hstry.co timelines in your class.