Teaching with Claymation: Part 1 of 3

Greetings,

Hope you are doing well this week. What is Claymation? Claymation is short for Clay Animation, which includes the following:

1. Any animation using clay, materials and props.

2. Traditionally time - consuming technique of stop motion video.

3. Using a digital cameras and computers provide accessibility in the classroom.

4. Using Movie Maker 2 or a video editing program.

Claymation can be used for:

* Content on a website

* A prop for a speech

* A multimedia story

* A concept or objective demonstration

* A public service announcement

Why do you want to use Claymation?

1. Motivates, engages and challenges students to be creative.

2. Can be applied to any subject level and area.

3. Perfect for exploring concepts and objectives.

4. Requires planning, organizing and teamwork.

More Ideas for Using Claymation in the Classroom.

* Storytelling

* Creative writing

* Explanations of the Scientific processes

* Human body functions

* Visualizing math concepts

* Recreating historical events & time periods

* Demonstrating physical activities - proper exercise

Please play the video below to see how I have used claymation with a PE Objective in the past.

How do I start making a claymation video?

1. Select your idea or objective you want to communicate to your audience.

2. Plan and build a flow map of your idea.

3. Start building your character and background or back drop for your movie.

4. Take photos of movement of the character.

5. Make the Movie.

In the next 2 weeks, I will be sharing with you the following ideas:

How to build your character with clay, armature, foil, styrofoam, construction paper, small eyes, mouths, etc. and props (rocks and sticks). How to set your stage, claymation tips, animation tips, video tips, filming, editing and producing the film. I will also be sharing with you more claymation videos. To produce one video, your students may want to work in groups and it may take 3 -5 days for the project to finish. See you next week.

How to Turn any Room into a Presentation Room With Your Computer Part 2

Hello,

Hope you are all doing well. Today I will be blogging about part 2 on how to turn your room into a presentation room. That's right, I will be giving you my own professional recipe, and also reveal the type of system I am currently using in my classroom. If you look at the picture to the left.  This is the wireless system I am using in the classroom.  This system requires no connection to your computer.

The students are amazed by it, especially when they get to talk on it, or give presentations. Just this past week, elementary students from first to fifth grade were able to hold the wireless microphone, while I used the lavaliere microphone clipped to my tie.  If you are interested in this system click on the picture above.

The students were so excited to hear their own voice over the speakers in my room. Several students were able to ask questions, read the daily objective, and give PowerPoint presentations while using the wireless microphones. I think they really cherished and enjoyed this experience.

The professional VHF wireless microphone comes with 4 wireless microphones. I have been using this system for the past 2 years and it is a pretty good system for students to use. Last year during the end of the school year party we pulled out all four microphones plus another corded one I had, and had a great Karaoke party in my room. The kids really enjoyed the experience to hear their voice amplified through the system. These are just a few uses you can use the system with.

This is a professional VHF wireless system from Pyle that comes with two handheld microphones, two belt pack transmitters that clip on to your belt with lavaliere and headset microphones, power on/standby/off switch, four 9 volt batteries and ¼ audio cable included, RF indicators, AF level meters, individual volume controls, ¼” individual and mixed output, frequency range: VHF 160-270MHz, operation range: up to 240 ft., power supply: 110/220 V Dimensions: 16.5” x 8.2” x 1.8”
Model Number: Pyle Pro PDWM4300


When you look at the picture on the left, you will see the VHF wireless system I am currently using with my students. I also use a corded microphone (not pictured) that you can buy separate. (I use the Memorex brand) I have the headsets put up in my room.

We get the headsets out on special occasions. I have a MPA-30 20 Watt PA amplifier 120V/12V by Radio Shack, which is connected to a little speaker that I place in the center of the room. (By the way, the amplifier, and the speaker were given to me by a close friend of mine, who found out I was using professional microphones in my room.

You see, when you are doing great things in your classroom, people tend to want to help you out!) There are several 20 watt PA amplifiers you can find online, just google them. As I was writing this post I saw some on Ebay, for as little as $10. Also you will need to get some small speakers (not computer speakers) to plug into the back of the amplifier. Once you connect all these together you are ready to use it.

By the way if you go to this site you can see the manufacturer’s manual: http://www.pyleaudio.com/manuals/PDWM4300.pdf The manual will give you even more detail about the system. At the time I was blogging, this professional VHF wireless system retails for about $267. You can check it out from the Manufacturers web site at by clicking on Here. As I said you can build this system for under $200. When I purchased my system I paid around $110.



 Unfortunately the price has gone up. If you are interested in the VHF wireless system, check out the one above to see if these are in your budget. Ok, we will see you next week, coming up in a few weeks you will hear about the podcasting and vodcasting classes I am teaching with a colleague of mine. Talk to you later.

How to Turn any Room into a Presentation Room with Your Computer Part 1

Hello,

Today I am blogging about how to set up a microphone PA system in your classroom. You can turn any room into a presentation room by using your computer, and your computer speakers.

 I think teachers should create a Great Experience for their students, and having a microphone, and speakers in their room does that. You can have students give presentations, and they can hear their voice amplified over your speakers. You can teach your students interview skills, and presentations skills. You can also teach them how to defend proposal, and premises in front of the class.

From my experience of visiting different elementary schools, I am finding about less than 1% of the teachers use microphones in their classrooms. So this can be a great way to help your students in having an unforgettable experience that they will never forget, while teaching them presentation skills at a young age.

It is as easy as connecting a microphone to the back of your computer through your sound card. You want to make sure you have computer speakers connected to your computer, so the sound can come through them. As you can see in the picture, you connect the round metal tip to the back of your sound card. At the end of the cord, it is usually color coded to match the color of your jack input in your soundcard. If it is not, then you are looking for an imprint or picture of a microphone on the back of your sound card.

Your other options are to buy a USB Microphone and just plug in the Microphone into a USB port. Many USB Microphones come with software you have to install before you connect the microphone to the computer. Once you do this, then all you have to do is to go into your sound and audio devices in your settings on your computer to turn on the microphone. To do this you have to left click on your green start button on the bottom left side of your computer screen. There are two views you could be using on your computer. (To enlarge the pictures you need to rapidly double click the pictures with the left side of the mouse)

The first view is the classic start menu and the second view is the new start menu. Let’s go over the first one, the classic start menu. Older computers have this menu and it looks like this Click on control panel and you are looking for an icon that says Sounds and Audio Devices Once you find it, rapidly double click with the left side of the mouse and you will see a menu like this

The second view is the newest view for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. Left click on the green start button on the bottom left of your screen. You are now looking for this button on the right side of the start menu. You will need to left click on the control panel button. Next, you will see this menu You will need to rapidly double click with the left side of the mouse on the Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices. This is the next menu you will see after you have opened up your Sounds and Audio Devices Options. You will be on the sounds tab button. You can place a check by the Place volume icon in the taskbar and then you want to click the button below that Advanced and you will see a menu like this You will want to uncheck the box that says Mute under the button that says Microphone, so you can hear sound coming out of your microphone. Do not worry about the other checks. You can close the Playback Control box and close the Sounds and Audio Devices Menu. You should now be able to talk with your microphone and hear the voice sounds projecting through your computer speakers.

Hope this helps if you have any other challenges while setting this up, please visit this following resource site: http://atr.k12.hi.us/tutorials/tutorials/sound/soundpt1.htm#one We will see you next week with part 2 on how to create set up a four professional wireless microphone system in your room for under $200. That's right I will be giving you all the details of where I purchased my professional wireless microphone system fron under $100. See you next week!

Express Your Next List of Words With Creativity!

Greetings fellow Colleagues,

As you know, we all give our students list of words, ides or concepts to remember. How can we find a unique and fun way for students to remember them? Well here is a cool web site that can turn your list of words or ideas into a format that represent them in a unique way. It allows us to express creativity by putting words all together to make unique vertical and horizontal designs called word clouds. You can use different colored fonts, layouts and colors in your own word cloud. After you have finished creating your word cloud then you can save it or print it or share it with others in their gallery. You can also see other word cloud creations that other people have made and shared with the world. To try it out for free you can visit http://www.wordle.net/ Hope you enjoy this site and we will see you next week.

Making Professional Movies with Digital Pictures/Videos for Free!

Today, I am going to share with you some valuable resources on how to make free movies or digital stories with your computer. There is a free software program the Microsoft has installed on all computers that have Windows and most people do not even know that this program is on their own computer. The name of this free program is called Windows Movie Maker (2).

So, what do you do with all those digital pictures and videos you have taken over the past holiday? You can turn them into a professional movie by using the program above. To find the program on your computers you click on Start -> Programs -> Accessories or you can find it in your Programs menu. Look for this picture to the left, when you are looking for it.
Now, I can go over the program and explain all the details of how to add pictures, add video, edit, clip, copy, cut, combine full-motion video, still images, narration, music, effects, titles, and transitions to create your own movies or you can learn it for free by viewing the following link through atomiclearning: http://www.atomiclearning.com/moviemaker2 When you click on the link you will watch professional videos on how to use the program step by step. You can watch from the comfort of your own home, then follow along step by step. Hope you enjoy the free tutorials (they are priceless). Here is another tutorial in which you can read step by step on how to use Windows Movie Maker (2): http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/default.mspx With this program you can also learn about Creating Digital Stories with Windows Movie Maker 2 Just click on the link above and it will take you to the University of Houston web site on Creating Digital Stories. Hope this helps and we will be sharing more and exciting and free info. in the future with you.