MY THOUGHTS IN CAPS LOCK.
Presenter is Eric Miller of Winchester, Virginia.
Website for presentation is http://dynamicclassroom.com.
Starting with a video made by students (or at least narrated by them?) about the Civil War. I’M NOT SURE HOW HE HAS THREE SEPARATE VIDEOS PLAYING IN A POWERPOINT SLIDE. MY COMPUTER (MBP) WOULD BLOW UP.
Contact information for presenter is on the website.
Overview: Teaches US History II for seven years, former military.
When he began teaching, he was given a textbook. Bleh. Now faces challenges of where to get money for technologies or where to get free technologies.
SEEMS TO BE A BIG CIVIL WAR BUFF – BEING FROM VIRGINIA, LOTS OF BATTLEFIELDS AROUND.
Webcasting: Tried to find the correct name; didn’t want to use “podcast” because of the idea that you’d need an iPod.
Virginia state law: for every 1000 students, school must have one technology coordinator
District superintendent had $, asked him to spend it. Created a summer program called “Webcast Historians”
You need a team! Content teacher, technology resource teacher, school administration, central office, community, parents
Needed a theme: “The Civil War in Winchester” to give them direction.
Tools needed: “ready bag” (digital camera, digital camcorder like a flip camera($123) with a mini-tripod, digital voice recorder or headset with a microphone, bag (numbered and inventory). A ready-bag costs about $500. 2 kids per bag.
Webcasts: profile community, interact with historical sites, utilize technology, engage students, demonstrate the effectiveness of technology in our schools
Chose 10 kids. Had an application form. Included legalities and releases. Selected a large spectrum of highly-motivated kids. Not necessarily gifted kids.
Identified sites to use. Identified transportation and logistical issues. Had students for 5 hrs/day for 10 days. Created schedules. Visit sites, collect still images, collect video images, collect audio sound, produce webcasts. The latter was the toughest! Kids learned by practicing around the school. Learning about shadows, sun, etc. Learned about focusing, shooting techniques, etc.
Students became the best teachers. Self-discovery.
In planning phase, created storyboarding lesson. Emphasized taking more footage/pics than you need as you can always delete. Students and groups given mission papers with things to research and learn before heading out.
PRESENTATION MOVES QUICKLY AND DOES A THOROUGH JOB OF EXPLAINING THE PROCESS USED. I’M HOPING HE COVERS SOME GRANT/$$$ OPTIONS BY THE END. IDEAS ARE RUNNING ALL OVER MY HEAD!
Students ate lunch wile working. Lots of work! Had sessions to ask questions. 80% of the time the students could answer each others questions.
Note: Check spelling before post-production!
Software Used: Movie Maker, PhotoStory, PowerPoint. Demonstrating Movie Maker now.
Showing some more examples from their final products and reflections from the students. Had a preview night for parents, had certificates for participants, made a 5 minute video for BOE.
Second year, curriculum dept. came up with money, upped the number to 20, and brought back some from the first year (“Master Casters”).
Used more authentic materials (videos from Civil War reenactments, Civil War photos, etc.) Got permission from a Civil War band to use their music.
Had the students research and use actual Civil War tools. Took pictures of the items.
Recommends the Civil War Trust for information and resources for teachers. Used their guides to take the students to actual battle fields. They recorded this to capture the emotions of the students.
THIS GENTLEMAN IS A VERY MOTIVATED, INSPIRING EDUCATOR WITH A PASSION FOR LEARNING THAT IS CONTAGIOUS. IT WAS GREAT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SESSION TO SEE HIS IDEAS, HIS LESSONS-LEARNED. GREAT!
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Mr. Malany,
A very kind review. I don’t know how you made such detailed observations as fast as I was going. Regarding playing the three videos at once in PowerPoint I just tried it and it worked! My laptop is a new Dell Vostro 1520 running Windows 7.
I have given that talk half a dozen times now and keep upgrading it. I regret that I could not profile more examples of the webcasts that my students produced. CWPT does have the casts related to the 3rd Battle of Winchester on their site but I have many more casts available.
The eTech conference was my last for awhile until ISTE this June in Denver. They want me to present my webcasting talk there as well. I will be revamping the presentation.
I am sorry that I did not address grants/$$$$$. I am working with CWPT to try to get some financial help but times are tough.
Thanks again for posting your ideas. Would you mind if I include your comments/observations on my site?
Yours,
Eric M.
Eric,
Thanks for the comment! This was the first year I blogged through some of the sessions I attended. I kept my fingers moving and tried to keep up with the links.
With budgets cuts in the works, I don’t see a Webcasters project in my district’s future without the help of grants, so I hope to sit down and research opportunities in the near future. Thanks for the inspiration, logistical ideas, and energy!
Feel free to use my blog as needed! Thanks for a great session!
Ryan