Today’s class session focused on Digital Storytelling and Digital Video. I am going to save my thoughts on Digital Storytelling for a future post. I do however want to reflect on the digital video activity we did involving the Flip.
Flip Video camcorders are perhaps one of the coolest gadgets available. They are simple to use and the pop-out USB connector makes it easy to share. I have had my Flip for years and I am heartbroken that Cisco Systems has discontinued them. However, several companies have developed easy to use camcorders that are similar to Flips, so there is still an opportunity for child-friendly camcorders to be utilized in schools.
Today’s activity was creating a video booktalk. The professor showed us an example of a video booktalk that was developed in a prior semester. I appreciated the professor doing this because; we will need to do this in our own classrooms. Students can often be overwhelmed by their own creativity and ideas, so providing an example gives them just enough structure to help them organize their thoughts. The class was then divided into small groups (3-4 students). Each group was assigned a picture book and instructed to create a video that would make others want to read this book.
My group was given “The Eleventh Hour” by Graeme Base. It is a very engaging and beautifully illustrated mystery book. What makes this book so engaging? Well, it has hidden messages and codes on every page for the reader to decipher to solve the mystery. Our group really enjoyed working collaboratively to create a skit of each of us being drawn to the book and helping each other look for the hidden messages. The Flip made recording the skit a breeze and without any cords, we uploaded our booktalk to the computer in just a few seconds. We decided not to add a title page to our booktalk because we opened with a close-up of the book. However, if we needed to do any editing or adding of slides/images, Flip videos can easily be imported into iMovie, Movie Maker, or other video editing software/websites.
Integrating digital videos with traditional booktalks is an innovate use of technology in the classroom because it allows students to share their understanding of the book with a much wider audience. The video booktalks could be shared with other classrooms from different locations (in the district, state, nation, or even with classes in other countries), and students will be exposed to a greater variety of books and genres.
**Here is a video booktalk from Scholastic to give you an idea of what they could look like:
I really enjoyed making our skit over the 11th Hour. For older children, I think this would be a great project and assessment tool. I think it would be fun to do this at the younger level but ask very specific questions and record the kids answering. Then sharing the video with other classrooms.
ReplyDeleteI also liked how we used digital storytelling for our book talks. I think this would be a great activity for upper elementary students becuase they will have more experiences to share. My group had We Are Special, so it was fun trying to act out the book without giving the whole story away.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing another example. I think that could be used in the classroom as well. All of the booktalks turned out extremely well for the time I gave you. Probably wouldn't be quite as smooth in a regular classroom, but children will live up to the billing - you just have to give them the chance!
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