SWCLC Blog

Using Frog - First Steps

clcuser — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:53:47 +0000

The session this afternoon is intended to help you understand what learning platforms are for and why teachers should think about using them in the first place.

Becta describe a Learning Platform here http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=re&rid=12887

The role of a learning platform within a teacher’s set of learning tools and the ways that a learning platform can enhance learning will be considered.

The main part of the training will be functional - how you create and share files, and then creating a lesson or a course.

All the resources we use will be available here.

using-frog-teachers

possible-lp-benefits

Afterwards please complete the survey here

Embedding Video in Activstudio Professional 3

admin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:52:54 +0000

Adding video to flipcharts in Activstudio 3 is a great way to engage learners. Video can be embedded into a flipchart along with a player and the video can be paused to discuss key points. You can also use the camera tool to capture still images from the video which can be annotated and added to a flipchart for later use.

For example, a scientific process can be paused and still images captured which could be used to sequence the activity.

However, there a few points to keep in mind when using video in a flipchart.

Firstly, Activstudio 3 will only accept .mov, .mpg and .avi as videos which can be embedded within a flipchart. Other file types such as wmv cannot be embedded, they have to be inserted as a linked file (video) instead.

This means that a wmv file has to be viewed outside of the flipchart in a player such as Windows Media Player. I have had some difficulty capturing stills from video with Media Player - I get a blank screen so it may be wise to steer clear of .wmv files.

There are some great websites which are good sources of video for teaching and learning. Some of these offer .mpg files (National Archives) which work fine in flipcharts. Others offer .wmv which ideally need converting before use with Activstudio. Some of these include: Geography at the Movies, Teachers TV and Teachertube.

A useful free converter to turn these wmv files into mpg or avi is Koyote Soft’s Free Video Converter 1.3

Family Learning Day Films Part 2

admin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:25:15 +0000

We had really good fun today making animations. Mums, Dads and Kids turned out to work together, learn together and have fun! Here are some of the animations that they created.

These films are are in Quicktime (mp4) format. You may need to download Quicktime (free) for your computer to view them.

Family Learning Day Films

admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:40:27 +0000

We had really good fun today making animations. Mums, Dads and Kids turned out to work together, learn together and have fun! Here are some of the animations that they created.

These films are are in Quicktime (mp4) format. You may need to download Quicktime (free) for your computer to view them.

Mr Mummy

Hickory Dickory Dock

Fall and Catch Cat

Darth Death and the Daleks

Jack and Jill

Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

Small Family

Steve and Bob

Tiger Buys a Pink Hat

Under the Sea

Where Did the Cat Go?

Becta Review 2008

clcuser — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:40:02 +0000

Another report from Becta worthy of consideration by all those who work with schools on ICT development. Accessible here
The figures on teachers attitudes and skills with ICT on the face of it look very good.
77% of teachers either very confident or quite confident in using ICT to deliver the school curriculum. Most teachers enthusiastic in 51% of schools.
Bear in mind that the first of these figures represents the views of ICT Coordinators. It worries me that only a minority of teachers seem enthusiastic about ICT in 49% of schools. In the work we do with schools teacher attitude is as important if not more important than their skills in determining the outcome of an ICT related project.
The research also asked teachers how effective they thought they were in using ICT to support teaching and learning in the classroom. 77% said they were either quite or very effective. Interestingly there was a strong correlation between years of experience and effectiveness. This result somewhat undermines a common assumption that it is the newer members of the teaching profession who are best at using ICT in schools

Film Making

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:09:21 +0000

Making film in schools is a great way to develop Media Literacy, ICT and to give students another way to present their project work. There are some fantastic web based resources for both students and teachers out there:

Media Literacy and Film

Media Education

Media Education Wales

Film Education

British Film Institute

Film Making

Film for Schools has some useful manuals that explain pre-production, production and post-production clearly.

Media Education Wales has a useful suggested video kit

First Light Movies has a useful guide to making films

Other Resources:

Storyboard

Creating a film using still images in iMovie

Scoring music using Garageband for your film

Using Pinnacle Studio 10

Animation

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:34:49 +0000

Stop Motion Animation is the art of bringing life to 3D models made out of clay or plasticene. Moving models tiny bit by bit and filming each movement, you can create the illusion of movement. Animation is great fun - it teaches computer skills, literacy and can help to develop speaking and listening.

What is learnt through Animation?

Unleashes Creativity
Deepens understanding of an issue or text
Encourages discussion and team work
Enables students with additional needs to express themselves
Builds confidence
Encourages negotiation
Encourages personalised learning by supporting a variety of learning styles
Creates motivation
Supports story / process sequencing

On a PC there are a number of Stop Motion Animation packages that you can use such a Stop Motion Pro and Digital Blue Movie Creator. Digital Blue Movie Creator comes with it’s own camera which is easy to use for children and can also record video live action.

Using Digital Blue Movie Creator

Adding Music Using Digital Blue

Narration Using Digital Blue

Editing Using Digital Blue

Apple Mac

On an Apple Mac there are a number of packages you can use including iStopMotion and I Can Animate

Using I Can Animate

Adding Music and a Voiceover

Animation Basics

Storyboard

Getting Started with Stop Motion Animation

Animation across the Curriculum

Maths

Animating shapes / Changing 2D and 3D shapes over time
Simple multiplication - How many frames needed or 3 seconds of film if 12 frames per second?

Literacy

Adapt a simple well known story
Create original stories based on random characters
Characterisation - create a character and bring them to life through how they move, speak and relate to others

Design and Technology

Animate toys
Create models from plasticene - form and function: models must look good and be animatable
Create sets and scenery

Art

Animate dried leaves and twigs to create an abstract animation about autumn
Animate in the style of a well known artist (Salvador Dali / Picasso) using their work as a stimulus

Music

Create music for an animation using software such as Garageband or Dance Ejay. Alternatively record live instruments.
Make an animation to a short excerpt of music to show interpretation / feelings
Make sound effects for a animation using instruments

History / Geography

Animate a myth - sum up the key points of a myth in a 60 second film
Animate simple key points from history

Science

Life processes - tadpole to frog
Food chains - insect eating a flower / bird eating an insect

PSHE

Films about bullying - exploring the consequences and why people bully
Animating toy cars - my safe journey to school
Transition project Y6 to Y7

Family Learning Fun - Animation

admin — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:54:44 +0000

Welcome to the Family Learning Day at the CLC on 28th and 29th October. Stop Motion Animation is the art of bringing life to 3D models made out of clay or plasticene. Moving models tiny bit by bit and filming each movement, you can create the illusion of movement. Animation is great fun - it teaches computer skills, literacy and can help to develop speaking and listening.

On a PC there are a number of Stop Motion Animation packages that you can use such a Stop Motion Pro (home version from £39 excluding camera - use with a normal DV camera) and Digital Blue Movie Creator. Digital Blue Movie Creator comes with it’s own camera which is easy to use for children and can also record video live action. there is a home version of Digital Blue Movie Creator available from around £80 through Amazon.

Using Digital Blue Movie Creator

Adding Music Using Digital Blue

Narration Using Digital Blue

Editing Using Digital Blue

Apple Mac

On an Apple Mac there are a number of packages you can use including iStopMotion (home version from around £35 through Apple Store) and I Can Animate(home version from £39 excluding camera - use with a normal DV camera)

Using I Can Animate

Adding Music and a Voiceover

Animation Basics

Storyboard

Getting Started with Stop Motion Animation