A final update and reflection for those interested, everyone else … move along, there’s nothing to see here… ;-)

Today was the fourth and final day of our project and we headed into it in OUTSTANDING shape. All groups had recorded their team videos; all we had to do was assemble them with some titles in Windows Movie Maker. I envisioned that taking all of about 10 minutes, tops, and so, my mind instantly started inventing extensions to the lesson. Clearly we needed something that explained and introduced the process, and that meant screenshots of some of the various sites and tools we used for the research. Check, check, check, check, check and check. Then we needed a shot of the data collection form. Check. Then for grins I figured I’d throw in some extra shots of other related tools/templates the kids used. Check and check. With the actual video files from the other day up on the server and ready for import, we were ready. Or so I thought…

I then decided we needed voice narration over top of these images and the main titles. Never having done that before, I was relieved to discover Windows Movie Maker actually had the capability. (Tools | Record Narration). I had a few minutes before class to mock up a proof of concept. Everything worked as it should.

The class arrived and we loaded our Movie Maker projects from last time. Half the class couldn’t retrieve what they’d created last time, though I am positive I saved each and every one of them. No matter, it was only a single title slide, so I showed the class what to do and several got it done. I then walked them through the process of adding the screenshot stills (above) and then got a little carried away with the ad-libbed “sample voiceover” that was intended to communicate what the kids might want to say on these slides that would appear before the actual recorded movie. This is where I lost a lot of kids. They were laughing pretty hard but some didn’t understand I was showing them what to do…

We managed to recover and get most of the students’ introductions recorded, though there were a few snags as there always are. Several of the videos I checked were outstanding. The screen cap above is from one particularly talented student who figured out the starburst effect on her own (and added the appropriate voiceover). It was fantastic! She wasn’t satisfied though and planned to come in after school to fix it.

By the time everyone had inserted their voiceovers, they wanted to watch their movies, and they did, in ‘preview’ mode. The video segments (the actual recreations of the universe) ran from 11 to 15 minutes and the kids I saw were clearly enjoying themselves. Others were still struggling to get done. Fortunately, thanks to the help of Mrs. Notato, her student teacher, and a classroom aide who happened by, we somehow managed to get them all done, except for the rendering.  With class over, we sent everyone to lunch, and the aide and I did the final video renderings. If you’ve worked with Movie Maker you know this takes FOREVER. Fortunately the lab was empty (it was my lunch hour) and everything was saved successfully. I watched a few of them and they were outstanding. Terrific voiceovers, great effects, and perfect transitions to the main video, the recreation of the solar system.

At this point, class was over … and most of the kids seemed excited and happy with the outcome, but I need to speak with them to be sure. When it was finished, the students had generated a 15+ minute video with custom titles and effects capping a Flip video recorded scale recreation of the solar system based on their own research. With just a few changes, this project will be even better (good thing, since Mrs. Gano’s class comes in tomorrow for Day One!)

Here are my overall impressions of the project …

What Went Well

• FANTASTIC SUPPORT by the classroom teacher, her student teacher, and the occasional aide. A fun, team effort all the way!
• Each day was well structured, efficiently utilized, and executed with a level of precision that even I was impressed with.
• The research sites and 3D solar system model were chock full of great data – everything we needed.
• Kids were engaged, challenged and allowed to express themselves. Each day, they left my class and headed to lunch. And each day, they were literally bouncing off the walls.

What Could Have Been Better / Done Differently

• The research form could have specified units of measure (it will tomorrow).
• We didn’t differentiate effectively. Some kids who needed extra time fell behind. I know what changes I need to make to address this.
• I was too involved in the video shooting. Somehow I knew it would be necessary, and I was right, as we *JUST* managed to finish the video for each team in 15 minutes or so. Otherwise we’d never have completed them in time. I had wanted the kids to be more in charge of the actual shooting. I know realize that would have taken much more time!
• We didn’t have time to check the facts the students wrote down for the video, and some were incorrect. That will be easy to fix.

Overall, from my perspective, the project was a success, especially considering it was the first time through the material. The students were engaged, motivated, did terrific work assembling and producing the video. They all grasped the key element I was striving for – the scale of the solar system. While not as impressive as the 1,000 yard model, it got the job done, in the hallway space we had available!

Tomorrow we try this lesson with a new class. Let’s see how we can improve the process and fun factor(s) for all involved!

-kj-