Green Screen workshop eTwinning Conference 2016

It’s behind you! Greenscreening in eTwinning

Led by Joe Dale

Prior to the workshop we had been emailed a list of apps to download that we would be using in the session.  This was really helpful as it meant I had a chance to look at them prior to the workshop.  

Having been to one of Joe Dale's sessions before I was prepared this time for the pace.  Joe's sessions cram as much into them as possible and at times the speed at which he is able to do things can be quite scary.  I would love to record the sessions so that I could pause at certain points to practice for a bit longer.  I was trying to make notes and follow the step by step instructions which was going well until we go to using FlickStackr Explore.  I decided the best way to try to note take was to screen shot as I was doing different things.

First Joe asked us to save a green background to our camera roll.  

Then we used my talking avatar app to record u to 5 minutes of speech.  

  

This clip was them put into Doink green screen app along with the green background.  We then could record our avatar against another background.

Moving swiftly on Joe then asked us to use Tintype to make a photo look old.  

Then we put this photo into Yakkit kids.

I choose an image I already had in my camera roll for this.

Then using image chef we place the green background into the newspaper.

Then we saved this to our camera roll and went back to green screen doink app.

This then enabled us to create a talking newspaper. (very Harry Potter like)

Following on from this Joe then showed us how we could get an image like a TV but make sure it was creative commons licensed.  At this point he used the explain everything app to put the image in to edit it and then went back to the green screen doink app.

Joe had then created a video clip on an old style TV outside a French cafe.  I was starting to plan how I could use this in the classroom.  I think it will be a great way for SEN children who struggle to get things written down to succeed and share their ideas.

Using MSQRD you can create some fantastic special effects, that again, I think my class will really enjoy using.  These can then be put into the green screen app with a different background.  

Joe also used pic collage to put a message in a heart shape.

                    

Joe then showed how to use adobe spark.  I have used adobe spark to make video clips but hadn't thought of using it with green screen.

Joe's session introduced so many apps that could be used in imaginative ways that I would never have thought of.  It was great to have the time to explore them but, the session really wasn't long enough.  I am really looking forward to exploring them further and hope that the children I work with will take the ideas even further.  

It was a fantastic and very informative session that covered a huge amount.  I now need the time to embed all I have learnt and may well need to contact Joe for further advice when I realise I have forgotten one of the steps of the app smashing!

This was the list of apps we downloaded prior to the session:

Doink

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/green-screen-by-do-ink/id730091131?mt=8 (this costs £2.29 but Joe finds it really useful in getting some hands on practice in Greenscreening)

FlickStackr Explore

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/flickstackr-explore-for-flickr/id390094427?mt=8

My Talking Avatar Free

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-talking-avatar-free/id933034219?mt=8

Pic Collage

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pic-collage-for-kids-best/id977081997?mt=8

ImageChef

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/imagechef-mix-text-photos/id330357169?mt=8

TinType

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/tintype/id573431688?mt=8

Yakit Kids

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/yakit-kids/id794546203?mt=8

Tellagami

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gami/id572737805?ls=1&mt=8

MegaPhoto

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/mega-photo-800+-free-real/id471883260?mt=8

PhotoFunia

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/photofunia/id321240709?mt=8

MSQRD

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/msqrd-live-filters-face-swap/id1065249424?mt=8

Etwinning conference 2016 Minecraft in the classroom

Minecraft Workshop

Led by Ray Chambers

I am really keen to try to capitalise on the children's obsession with minecraft and use it as an educational tool.  I am however very concerned that I need to spend time understanding how it works before I do this.  I therefore, took the opportunity to go to Ray Chambers workshop on minecraft.  He began by suggesting some of the curriculum areas minecraft could be used to develop learning in a different way.  

I know from watching my own son on minecraft, the power it can have.  He was able to create some amazing structures and was even able to create and run his own servers, however I am not sure that I could do such things or have enough time to do it.  

Ray was able to explain how the educator edition of minecraft works, although there is a beta version released by microsoft which may be slightly different, as a teacher you have control over the world the children are in.  That means you can freeze the players, withhold objects, keep children in creative mode rather than survival and you can stop it becoming dark.

Ray demonstrated his knowledge and expertise with some explanations followed by a opportunity to play.  I realised how it becomes very addictive as you just want to finish what you are doing and so when the session ended I wanted to finish the house I was building.

I am still somewhat reticent about using minecraft in school as I know how addicted some children are.  However, I am going to look into having a lunchtime minecraft club once I get the educator edition.  I hope I can use it to challenge the children to build specific structures linked to stories, like the example Ray showed of a bible story told through minecraft.  I would really like to see the children create some games or challenges in minecraft as well.  Ray showed a great example of children having to use grid references to find treasure that was buried.  

I would really like to use minecraft in a traditional tales project.  I would like to see the children creating a fairy tale world with all the different building, such as the gingerbread cottage, little Red Riding Hood's house and Grandma's cottage, a giant beanstalk with a castle etc.

As Ray pointed out is like lego but speeded up.  I love lego so can see no reason why I can't combine minecraft and lego.

The final element I want to capitalise on is the use of writing within minecraft.  I think some of my reluctant writers might be willing to write a sign or in a book in minecraft rather than putting pencil to paper.  

Etwinning Conference 2016

The etwinning conference in Nottingham has to be one of the highlights of the year.  I always come away feeling inspired, enthusiastic and part of a fantastic network of educators.  This year was no exception, despite the uncertainty following the EU referendum, it was clear that this was not going to stop teachers from discussing projects and planning global learning.
Following the results of the referendum it is crucial that we continue to develop children's global awareness.  Etwinning is one of the tools that can be used to do this, through projects that link to the curriculum and collaboration with classes around Europe.
This year the focus of the conference was digital literacy.  There were workshops from some excellent presenters that gave some great ideas for classroom practice.   The keynotes were interesting and informative. @inkythinking's visual representation of the whole conference was absolutely amazing.

It is always hard to quantify what was the most inspiring aspects of the conference.  What I do know is that even with only 3 weeks of term to go, I am planning my next etwinning projects and thinking of all the digital literacy skills I will enabling my pupils to showcase in their projects.

Week 5 etwinning MOOC

   

   

Week 4 etwinning mooc

Using canva I have created the plan of the technology I would use in the project.

I have chosen padlet, snap guide, storyboardthat and scratch.

I would like to try to make the children more collaboratively so would like to explore which web tools enable the pupils to work collaboratively.

Here is an example of the beginning of a story board.  https://www.storyboardthat.com/storyboards/kkeaveny/a-mixed-up-fairy-tale

A mixed up fairy tale Storyboard by kkeaveny

A mixed up fairy tale Storyboard by kkeaveny

Week 3 evaluating other projects #twinmooc

Project evaluation rubric

This rubric is really useful when planning an eTwinning project.  Using it to evaluate other teachers draft projects also made me reflect upon the quality of my own projects and what I could do to improve them.  I am always keen to learn and develop.  I also want to make sure that the etwinning projects my pupils take part in ensure good progression in learning linked to our national curricukum.  This can sometimes be the challenge.  I do think that making the links to clear learning outcomes is crucial.

Week 3 eTwinning MOOC

Task for Week 3

The task for week 3 is to plan a collaborative quality project.   This is a great opportunity to really begin to think about a project for next academic year.  I am keen to plan a project that enables even the youngest pupils to collaborate with one another.  I have found that whatever age the pupils are, it can be challenging to create a fully collaborative project.  

One tool I have used in eTwinning project is Padlet.  It is a good way for pupils to be able to quickly respond to one another and have a shared space.  I would like to develop the use of it further, using it to encourage collaboration between pupils using padlet.

Another tool that is really useful in a project is Google forms.  I have used these to create questions that the children can answer.  We can then compare the results and look at similarities and differences.  With older children I have got the children to create their own forms.  This could be a follow up activity to information provided by the pupils.

Here are some of the responses to some questions that children in the UK and Italy answered in the project 'We are what we eat?'
 

In a recent project we have used story jumper to create a recipe book of the recipes the children have made in the project.  This is a really nice resource to share with parents as well as having a nice end of project piece of work.

Read this free book made on StoryJumper

Coding in Key Stage One

I know this app has been available for a while but I haven't really spent much time thinking about how to use it until recently.  Whilst completing the European Schoolnet course: Game in the classroom I wrote a brief lesson plan for the first lesson I would do with my class using Scratch jr.

lesson plan  The lesson plan was created in learning designer, which is a really interesting way to plan lessons that you can then share with others.

I am looking forward to working with my class next week to see how quickly they develop their understanding of Scratch jr.

Projects #twinmooc

What needs or areas of improvement and learning have I detected in my teaching? 

The best place to find inspiration is through eTwinning.  I don't just mean other projects but also the professional development available and the contacts you make.
I also look to the European Schoolnet website.europeanschoolnetacademy
There are a number of courses that you can sign up to but also past courses for you to view.
I have just completed the games in school 3rd round course, which was a great way to find out some new ideas for using games in the classroom. 

What projects have I found that might help me?

One place to start is with the Project kits these can provide the basis for a project that can be worked through.  I especially like the
The next place to look is within the forum on etwinning and also within the project gallery where you can view other people's projects.

I have been fortunate enough to be involved in some very successful projects two of which have been awarded quality labels recently.
We are what we eat. and A trip to London

I am really keen next year to develop a project for younger children involving an exchange of bears, I have done this in the past and it has been very successful.