Creating a screencast on QuickTime Player

Today, we learnt how to screencast using QuickTime Player on our laptops. In order to practise screencasting, we created a video of how our learners navigate our class site and their learning. Our Year 1 learners use iPads to support their learning and can access the site directly from a link on their iPad screen. They navigate the site as shown in the screencast and then import the appropriate activity onto their Explain Everything by clicking the link. An example of the types of activities we create to support reading through Explain Everything is also shown, as insight into how our activities are built to support the level of which the students are currently working at.

While completing this activity, I realised how screencasting can provide a quick method of creating rewindable learning. The teacher can create a quick screencast to explain activities or ideas to students which can be shared and then accessed whenever and wherever by the students when they require the support.

Here is the link to our class site!

Apple Mac Tips - Meredith Bean

Today, Meredith Bean from Apple came to our MDTA Friday to give us some tips on using Apple Mac functions and features. So that I wouldn't forget the features which stood out to me, I created a quick brainstorm on Explain Everything. Some of the functions I thought were extremely useful in the classroom were:

1. Create student user - Creating a student user account enables students to work on the same computer as the teacher without having access to all the teacher's files (which often have confidential information).

2. Text to speech settings - Depending on where in the world you are teaching you can select the appropriate speaker for the language you are teaching - the teacher or students can highlight text in a document and by clicking the fn key twice (or the function you have selected) the text will be read aloud. This can be a great tool for writing as students can hear their work being read out.

3. Change keyboard preferences - Choose different keyboards in order to get the appropriate letters and macrons for the language you select.

4. Do not disturb function - Limit the times in which you receive notifications by altering the time in the do not disturb settings.

5. Switch controls - Alter controls in order to support students with a variety of learning needs.

Stop Motion Animation!

Today, I created my first stop motion animation video on iMovie. I teach in a new entrants class so decided to base it around children starting out on their first day at school. It was great to be able to get creative and once again explore the different features of iMovie - especially the voice effects, which I have used throughout the video. I am looking forward to sharing this video with my learners on Monday!

iMovie Tricks and Tips

Today, at our MDTA day we once again were given the opportunity to explore iMovie. It has been great to be able to explore the many functions of iMovie and some great tips were shared by our mentor Fiona Grant. In order to summarise the main point I created a diagram of some of the tips and tricks - I found the Spacebar and Control B function especially useful today when editing video clips!

Exploring iMovie!

Last Friday, we explored iMovie and were challenged to create a movie based around our inquiry. I began creating my movie on the iPad, only to realise that this would cause much challenge as the functions I required were limited and only readily available on the computer programme. After much trial and error, I decided that I would retake my photos (as iMovie did not save these onto my iPad automatically and they were stuck hidden away somewhere) and work on iMovie on my laptop. I learnt that if I want to create another movie using iMovie on the iPad, I need to first learn how to be able to rotate photos and edit the videos as I can on the laptop. I am unsure whether the iPad app has all the same functions? If you know any tips and tricks I would love to hear!
Check out the movie!

Collage and GIF creating

The focus for our MDTA day today was still images. We were challenged to take a series of photos, which we could incorporate into our classroom learning. This term, our school inquiry focus is "as i see it", so I decided to look at focusing on smaller components within a larger object, and how we can look at objects from different perspectives. It was really interesting to see how by focusing on smaller components of my "wee red racer" the larger object split into components of an unfinished and unidentified puzzle.

Fiona Grant then introduced us to how to create a GIF in Google Photos (It's as easy as clicking on Google Photos, adding the photos, clicking on the button to create an animation and adding in the desired photos!) and the website PicMonkey for creating collages (this is also very simple and has easy to follow instructions). The above images were created on the applications mentioned above, and I was surprised how simple and effective they both were.

This term our children will be looking at their favourite thing at school, and they will be challenged to look at the smaller parts of the larger object. It will be interesting to see what parts of the object the children decide to focus on and we may even look at creating some GIFs, which we can show to the class and get them to guess what the larger object is.

Site up and ready to roll for Term 2!

Next Term, we are going to trial this site as a rotation during literacy. Students who have completed their reading follow up activity (our reading follow up activities are on the iPad and consist of cut up sentences, writing word work, picture taking and drawing - created as slides on Explain Everything) or need a task to work on until the teacher takes their group, will go onto the site and select an activity of their choice. The site is designed to fit their iPad screen, so students do not need to scroll to find the activities.

The activities will change as the learners needs develop, and will target specific learning areas. Currently, we are focusing on students learning their alphabet letters and sounds, high frequency words, and letter blends. All the activities on the site now are built around students building this knowledge in a variety of modes. We noticed many of the students want to engage in a variety of activities (both on and off the iPad), so it will be interesting to see how they engage with choosing a range of activities off the site,

Going onto a site will be a new challenge for all our learners, so we will take the time to make sure they understand not only the expectations, but also how to navigate their way around. Will keep you updated on how it goes!


Click on the picture to check out the site!