Blog

August 12, 2017


Today I spent two hours and finished two more screencast "how-to" videos! I decided to show how I created the opening sequence of my narrative. I broke them up into two separate videos as I realized they were getting long. So I made one video on increasing speed, and the other on fading to black and white. Since these were two separate skills, I figured two videos might be better.

They were not as polished or short as the first one. Honestly, I could have spent hours refining the videos. In the first "how-to" I spent a lot of time re-recording the audio and shortening the videos sot that it would all go together. I definitely did some editing on the other two videos, but I realize that this would take quite a few hours more work. I had to record the screen casts quite a few times. I could have broken them up and shortened them, and I think that would have been better. I could then re-record the audio to go with it. Still, I had to adjust quite a few of the clips, add transitions, and adjust the volume. I also had to recreate the process I used to create the video. It was tough because I also realized that there was a better way to do what I had done the first time.

For my first try at screencasts, I think these were OK. I then added the links to these on my website. I don't think I have a future in screen casting. I realize that screencasts are actually much harder than they look. They take a lot of planning.

Things that worked well:

  • Planning what I needed to say
  • Recording the screencast with audio, and then rewriting it so that it flowed better and was more succinct.
  • Copying my video and then breaking it into parts.
  • Remembering that I could cut apart the screencast and shorten it.

Challenges:

  • Sometimes the effect I was trying to show wouldn't work (and I would get angry, say a few choice words) and I had to re-do it.
  • Length: It is hard to make a 1 minute tutorial and it takes time and a flawless script.
  • Zooming in -- I should spend more time working on how to do this with a screen cast and see how I can make it better with editing



August 11, 2017

I spent a couple of hours today finishing up the framework and planning what video resources I would need. I created a getting started page for my school, which I knew would be useful and have needed for a while. I then planned my screencasts and started my first one.

I first looked to see what was available from WeVideo academy and watched a couple of their "how-to" videos to see how they were done. I have never actually done anything like that and I realized that they aren't hard but they aren't easy either. I then created a short how-to video to see how the screen-cast video worked. I did include a short screen cast in my final video, but I didn't really narrate it.

I realized that it needed close ups-- possibly some still shots to show what I was looking at and which piece I was looking at. I need to figure out how to edit it so kids will best understand what part I am looking at -- like a zoom in feature or perhaps a way to draw on it. I know there are tools that do this, but I'd like to use WeVideo and the tools I have at hand.

I also needed to write a short script because I realized that I would record the audio after. I'll see how this works and then I'll try a more complex how-to video.


...(Later)

I finished my first screencast. Took longer than I expected. I tried adding in a screen shot. I probably will look at the tutorials to do a better job for the next one. I recorded the audio in 3 pieces. That seemed to work well. I added a little audio for fun. It took me about an hour. The next screencast is more complicated so I am going to start planning all the pieces. I have uploaded my finished video to use as a demo within the screencast.


August 9, 2017

Today I started with lesson plan framework. I just kind of wrote it out, trying to keep in mind that I want kids to get started as quickly as possible. As I write, I am keeping a list of materials / resources I will need. I am thinking of just making a Google slides presentation I can just have ready along with the screencasts. At first I was nervous about the screencasts but then I realized I can edit them AND I can do a voice over. Haha! Then I realized I don't have a microphone... :(

I also took a look at the standards and started fleshing that out. I thought that was important to really look at the rubrics because I thought they might give me some insight into how to make the project better as I flesh it out.

I am kind of loving the new Google Sites as a way to organize things. They are really easy to use. I haven't quite figures out everything yet, but I like the simplicity. I haven't figured out the way to modify texts and fonts yet, or how to use tables, but for now I don't need all of that.

Last night I was feeling very overwhelmed as the Deep Dive seemed to be deeper than I had thought. That said, I am glad I did it because I feel like I am starting to better understand the whole design thinking model a little bit better. I am really excited to make videos with the kids. ( I don't think I'll ever get as excited about paper circuits, but I know they would like it, so next year... haha).






August 8, 2017

I got my website made and the blog. I realize that I don't like Blogger.

It is clunky. I may abandon it. I know it is good, but I really like playing with the new Google Sites and I have used it before so I am going to use this.

I also know I am going to have to narrow my focus a bit. I really like using the design framework to think about my project. Even just spending time on the empathy stage is helping me figure out what I want to create and what the kids will need. My experience at CML gave me a lot of good ideas about how to put these kinds of lessons together. Also, the design thinking challenge was good because it made me think about what my students need and who THEY are. I haven't seen them all summer. I miss them! And I know they are going to love making videos. And I want them making them as soon as possible. So I don't want to spend too much time on the how to's. I also realize I need an easier intro handout to WeVideo. The kids love my quick handouts I make so they can move forward. Watching a screencast is good, but sometimes you need a nice handout or step by step instruction piece that is very visual.