Movie Making in the Elementary Classroom

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Permalink Reply by Brian on December 8, 2007 at 3:25pm

Thanks, Nancy, for this website. Beth--this is my first time presenting at VSTE, and I'm nervous also. I've been to some pretty bad presentations and always took note of what they did that I found frightfully boring (you know, you sit there wanting to bang your head against the wall) and took note of what caused me to drift off. I get these nightmares of looking up and everyone has passed out on the floor, or there's this thundering of footsteps of people running out the door screaming and papers settling to the floor as the last person escapes. I plan to look it over.

Oddly enough, my presentation sounds like a dissertation: Breaking Into the Mind of the Unmotivated Student: How to Lower the Stress of the Teacher. I've done some research on what tricks to do with technology integration that will grab the unreachable student and still take test scores up.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on December 8, 2007 at 4:00pm

Be anxious to "see" your presentation and findings when you are finished. One of the posts Dan Meyer referred to is worth a look. There is another one I can't find, but if I do I'll send it to you. In the meantime, enjoy learning the art of presenting from Dan Meyer (a very young math teacher).

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Permalink Reply by Beth on December 9, 2007 at 6:58am

Brian-
I have had nightmares about the same thing. I attended ETLC at the Hotel Roanoke last week and I felt so sorry for one presenters in a session....at the end of the presentation many of the audience members were trying to correct her, were interrupting, etc, etc....the presenter was so sweet, I felt sorry for her. :(

I think the biggest problem that I am facing about my upcoming presentation is that I am not sure who my target audience is.....is it ITRTs, classroom teachers, or administrators? Mine is called "Lights, Camera, Movie Maker!" ....Yours sounds interesting....I could use all the help in that area that I can!! It looks like I am writing a dissertation with my reply :)

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Permalink Reply by Kevin H. on December 9, 2007 at 7:20am

Sounds like some rude audience members to me, Beth. I would be furious as a presenter if people acted like that.

My advice for presentations is to make some aspect of it interactive -- make them do something and get their attention that way. Perhaps you have them storyboard out a simple project in a curriculum area. Or you have them write and share out their reflections on why they want to use Moviemaker and the rationale for movies in the classroom. If you can draw them in and try to avoid having them just sitting there, staring at you and fidgeting in their seats, you will find that they will almost all be with you. (One advice I was given once is that a workshop audience is divided in three parts: the folks who are already doing what you presenting; the folks who want to learn; and the folks who have wandered in for no good reason. You need to shoot for the middle crowd and use the experienced crowd as partners in conversations and activities. The third crowd? You try to get them engaged but don't waste all of your energy there)

At least, that is my experience in giving presentations and workshops through the National Writing Project (where we almost always have people write into a presentation -- such as, what project do you have in mind could be enanced through the use of moviemaking? -- and then write out of the presentation and then share out to the larger group -- such as, how will you implement your project and what hurdles remain for you?).

Good luck -- I am sure you will do fine.

Kevin

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Permalink Reply by Beth on December 9, 2007 at 1:27pm

Kevin--
Great ideas.....thanks for taking the time to share. I am going to take your ideas and work on making the session interactive. I am glad that I have stumbled on to this discussion. This is the first time I have really used the 2.0 social network. What a great support system! Thanks again!! --Beth

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Permalink Reply by Brian on December 9, 2007 at 2:14pm

Beth/Kevin/Nancy: I have taken your ideas and started working on my presentation today. My colleagues are going to be critiquing in practice presentation sessions, and I'll be sharing what's been shared here. Beth: as for your audience, for mine, I checked the "for all audiences" area--it sounds like that will be yours too. I'm looking forward to meeting you (and, I think my boss said that this year we (department) can stay at the Hotel Roanoke instead of an outlying parcel! No more finding a parking place!

Permalink Reply by Kevin H. on December 9, 2007 at 7:20pm

No problem
(I hope it was helpful)
I am sure you will do a wonderful job.
Let us know how it goes and maybe share some of the workshop with us?
:)

Kevin

Permalink Reply by Brian on December 10, 2007 at 9:20am

Beth: I uploaded to my blog (I'm at work right now) and had to switch computers to get to Classroom 2.0--it's under workshops/Movie Maker. Is this the kind of stuff you were talking about? If not, let me know: http://ppsblogs.net/brianmckee

Permalink Reply by Beth on December 10, 2007 at 4:30pm

Brian--
I live in Botetourt County...which is close is about 20 minutes from Hotel Roanoke...so I have to drive in every day. I am glad that you guys can stay at the hotel this year...it is such a nice place....and very convenient. It will be nice to put face with our conversations.

I checked out your blog/workshop. That was exactly what I was talking about. You have great ideas. I have mainly secondary experience so it was nice to see elementary ideas....that is an area where I am weak. Thanks for sharing.
I'll be anxious to hear how your upcoming workshop goes....it sounds like you are doing great things in the Portsmouth area. :)

Permalink Reply by Studica Skills on December 11, 2007 at 7:39am

I just want to invite any of you whose students are making videos (using the software of your choice) to submit them for the Studica Skills competitions. I am repeating myself here, because I've posted similar things in other discussions, but we have a group of middle school students who put together some VERY simple and basic videos, and have entered for the last three years. So far they've won more than $5000 in prizes (software, cash) for their classroom, and it's a great way to keep your students excited. Just seeing their submissions on the web, for people to see and vote (and show all their friends!) is rewarding. Even better to walk away with prizes and well-deserved recognition!

Let me know if you're interested!
And here's a link to the full list of submissions from the Amherst Middle School students:
Take a look!

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Permalink Reply by Judy Murray on December 11, 2007 at 8:08am

Last year the middle school students used photo story to create a virtual tour of their school. The thought was that incoming students could view this to get an idea of what the school was like.
The same group of students used moviemaker to create a one minute PSA (public service announcement) to be aired on the elementary news show about cyberbullying.

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Permalink Reply by Studica Skills on December 11, 2007 at 8:21am

Excellent ideas - both the PSA and the virtual tour! When my son was in middle school, the class made a video every day that aired on the following morning's announcements. They included a short weathercast, a sports update (sometimes including footage from a game), happy birthdays and whatever else might be pertinent that day. It was nice to see them growing throughout the year, and incorporating new, creative ideas into their recordings. They really took to the structured environment as well - as the video was a part of their daily routine and they simply switched tasks.

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