Tech Tips Tuesday

This week's tip: Taking it further with video

I've been playing around with the Flip Camera in my classroom for about a term now. I've also started sharing it around with other classes for special occasions. I took it along to a School Board meeting and to a P&C meeting and showed them a little video of how we have been using it. I thought this was important as our P&C purchased the camera, and may want to purchase more for other classes now that they've seen how it can be used.
Some of the ways we've used it include:

• Recording discoveries on excursions and camps
• Recording reflections and opinions
• Recording team work
• Recording special events and activities
• Recording performances for self-reflection/self-assessment
• Recording homework instructions
• Recording speeches
  

So, where to next? Now I'd like to provide opportunities for students to delve into digital-storytelling or video production as a form of communication. I would like for students to use video to communicate a message in place of the pencil and paper method. But this is all new to me! Fortunately, someone else has already paved the way, and today I'd like to share some resources with you in case you are heading along this track also.

Picture This offers step by step instructions on how to get started with video in the classroom, with the all important reminder to begin with the areas that students need to work on - hence making it relevant!

The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling provides an introduction to digital storytelling along with examples and tools.

Another post full of digital storytelling links can be found at Making Teachers Nerdy.

For those of you asking "What is a Flip camera?" here's 7 Things You Should Know About Flip Camcorders.

If you've been working with video and digital storytelling, please let me know what's worked for you and what you'd suggest doing/not doing.