Friday, March 20, 2009

Update:

Busy day today. Here is what we did:
  1. We tried (and failed) to upload first video to eduvision. We have an email out to Clayton at JDL for help. Seems to be a file format issue.
  2. First grade started their interviews for their video (due next week); Students wrote interview questions, interviewed each other, teachers, administrators, and students from other classes. Priceless. Class learned how to use video camera and some basic editing in iMovie 8.
  3. Second grade had their field trip to the Brooklyn Children's Museum today.
  4. Third grade "pitched" their web page ideas. They want to include lots of interactive games.
  5. Fourth grade worked on ideas for web page. They came up with topics that need to be approved by Ms. Liebmann. (I will email you Ms. Liebmann). If the topics are approved, they need to sketch out their ideas.
  6. Ms. Perez created an invitation for other classes to view our work. We have a "holding" web page (here) for teachers to access our work so far. Ms. Newman's class will make an announcement for the school to let teachers know more information.
I'll follow this up with an email with some passwords and other information. Please feel free to add to this if I missed anything!

Great week!!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Big "To Do!"

We have a lot going on with the project. How exciting was Friday? With all the running around, I want to make clear what we have done and what needs to be done next:
  • All teachers have signed up for a Voice Thread account. Remember, this is a trial account. To upgrade to a full account, you need to click the "Go Pro!" button. Then, click the K-12 icon. Look for the "Free Educator" column and click the button.

  • All classes have made comments on the PBL at PS 376 voice thread.
    -- Ms. Liebmann's class needs to re-record some of them because we forgot to change identities for each group. (Oops, sorry, Ms. Liebmann)
    --Now it is time for students to listen to the other classes comments and projects. They can leave their own comments or questions if they like.

  • If you have time (and are ready to) you can also set up your student's identities. When you are in the voice thread, open the identity menu and click "Create another identity." Then you can edit the names of each identitiy and upload a picture for each one. This will make it easier for each group to find their identity.

  • Finally, each class should start its own Voice Thread about the class project:
    -- This can be a place for students to document their research.
    -- This can be a place to collect images and ideas.
    -- This can be a place where students ask questions.
    -- Include information about your field trip.
    -- Include ideas about the final product.
    Or, it can be any combination of the above, depending on where you are in your project.
    It would be great if you added your class Voice Thread to this blog. Just copy the "embed" info into the body of the blog. You can find this in any open thread by clicking the Menu button, then click "Embed."
There is a lot more to remember, but these are the important points. Let me know if you get stuck or forget how to do anything.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Class 3-304

Saving the NY Aquarium

Voice Thread

What is our project about? Here is a cool tool, called "Voice Thread" that will help us share our ideas using video, audio, text, and drawing:

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Video, a cool site

I used Animato to make a quick video (about 2 minutes to put together and 10 minutes for the computer to render it):