Enhancing

=media type="custom" key="6179307" align="right"= =Enhancing The Podcast=

Digital Storytelling with MovieMaker
// To view the podcasts, click on the viewer to the right and scroll down to a specific episode. // = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

[[image:Melissa_with_claymation_and_flip_camera.jpg width="180" height="240" align="left"]] **//Using Flip Cameras to Create//**
= Claymation Art Project = // 6th Grade Art Students //
 * Project Description:** This podcast features an original claymation movie produced by a small group of 6th grade art students as their final project at the end of a unit on Art Careers. The students brainstormed several concepts before deciding on producing a short claymation titled "A day at the beach." Students created storyboards, painted their background and sculpted each clay figure. They used the flip camera to videotape their movie, freeplaymusic.com to find ther music and Windows MovieMaker to edit the clips.

**//Using Flip Cameras & Podcasts to Demonstrate//**
=Poetry Bookmaking Art Project= //6th & 7th Grade Language Art Students//
 * Project Description:** This podcast features video clips, still photos and voice recordings of middle school language art students creating handmade books for their original poems. In collaboration with the Language Arts teacher, Ms. Walker, I taught students how to fold and make an accordian book; design the cover using fabric, paper and/or tempera paint; and illustrate their poems using watercolor, colored pencil, markers and collage techniques. As part of a unit on poetry, their Language Arts teacher assigned them to write 5 poems with 5 illustrations. Over the course of 5 days, students came to the art room to create and assemble their books. This podcast highlights the studio process of writing, drawing and reciting their poems.



**//Using Flip Cameras to Assess Learning//**
=Artist Research Poster Project= //7th Grade Art Students//
 * Project Description:** This podcast features students presenting their final project in 7th grade art--an artist research poster. Students chose their artist and were instructed to write a one-page paper and to create a poster about the artist. The assignment included selecting and researching the artist, writing a research paper, selecting 2-4 of the artists' artworks as well as a portrait of the artist to be used to design and create their poster. I asked students to write down 3 interesting facts about their artists on "sticky notes" which they read aloud for this podcast. This podcast was a useful assessment tool to demonstrate what the students learned about the artist they researched.

**//Using Podcasts to Present//**
=Art & Poetry Paintings= //3rd and 6th Grade Students//
 * Project Description:** This Podcast provides information about integrating art across the curriculum. This "Art and Poetry" episode focuses on creating a series of paintings inspired by the Poem "Christmas Dog" by Shel Silverstein. Third grade students read the poem and created individual drawings and paintings, while 6th grade students collaborated on creating large scale paintings for each stanza of the poem. Still photographs of their paintings, are featured as a student recites the poem.



=Reflections on Producing the Podcasts=
 * Creating a professional-quality digital story** requires a lot of time and skill editing with MovieMaker and Audacity softtware. Both programs are easy to learn, but to utilize them to their fullest advantage requires some practice and patience. I have taught students how to put together a 2:00 - 3:00 minute digital story/podcast in about 8 - 12 hours of class time which includes shooting and editing.


 * The Flip cameras** are very useful to record students thoughts quickly and easily, however, I found myself using my iPhone because it was always charged and it was easy to switch from stills to video recording. However, the mic is much better on the Flip camera. I also found that the Snowball mic was very effective in recording a group of students in discussion.

I'm sure that digital stories/podcasts could be a useful tool in the classroom, but they do require an immense amount of time to produce. I think they would be useful to post on a teacher's or school's website to show parents what students are learning. I also think it would be a good tool to share lessons with other teachers, particularly in art. I don't think, however, that the "talking head" type interview podcasts are very interesting and are probably a waste of time. I have a lot of ideas for using digital stories/podcasts for curriculum development in art.
 * I found that the best way to utilize digital stories** is as an assessment tool for a particular unit or lesson or as a lesson in and of itself.


 * I think the biggest issue of producing the podcasts** remains how to find a balance between usefulness and practicality beyond the novelty of the technology. In other words, is it worth the time and effort, who will actually view or use it and most importantly are the students learning from it?

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 * What fascinated me most about producing the podcasts** was that when recording the students, they actually appeared to make much more thoughtful and intelligent comments when they knew they were being recorded. I was very impressed with their remarks. They also seemed very interested in hearing themselves on the recording.

Standard V ** – I// ntegrating Technology into the Curriculum and Instruction Design, implement and assess learning experiences that incorporate use of technology in the curriculum-related instructional activity to support understanding, inquiry, problem-solving communication or collaboration. //
 * Maryland Teacher Technology Standards

**Maryland Technology Literacy Standards for Students Addressed: Grade 6 Standard 3.0 –** // Technology for Learning and Collaboration: Use a variety of technologies for learning and collaboration A. Learning // //1. Select and use technology tools to enhance learning. a) Use technology tools, including software and hardware, from a range of teacher-selected options to learn new content or reinforce skills// //B. Encourage Collaboration 1. Select and use technology tools to encourage collaboration//.

A. Communication 1. Select and use technology for communication
 * Standard 4.0 -- Technology for Communication and Expression:** //Use technology to communicate inforamtion and express ideas using various media formats.

D. Expression 1. Select and use technology to express ideas. a) Select and use the appropriate multimedia and publishing tools to express original ideas with print, drawings, digital images, video, sounds and/or personal recordings.//