Take Teaching to the Next Level
Where Microscope and Mouse Meet
Connecting to a Global Community of Educators
Matt’s Media Tips 5-21 One of the most popular editions of Matt’s Media Tips was about Six-Word stories. In fact, people continue to go back to that particular piece over and over again (closing in on 3,000 views). With all of that interest, I thought we would review some of my favorite digital storytelling resources this week. And, since many of you are challenging your students to create their summer reading lists, why not challenge them to create and read each others work this summer? And this wouldn’t be called Matt’s Media Tips if I didn’t give you helpful things along the way. With that in mind, I’ve put together a digital storytelling presentation for you. Within it you’ll find links to great digital storytelling sites, integration ideas, sample movies and more. Plus, once you download this presentation, it is yours to keep. You can even take off my name, plop in your own, and you’ll have your next inservice/staff training ready to go! Don’t forget, whenever you share your information with someone else that counts towards your DEN Star status (note: you’ll be prompted to log-in to make this last link work). Getting Started With Digital Storytelling The first link that I want to share with you, I feel, really encapsulates the who, what, where, when, and why of Digital Storytelling. It also provides a great framework for what to look for when evaluating a good story. The hub is one of Discovery Communication’s newest channels. The hub for Teachers Digital Storytelling site has great resources centered around digital storytelling. By visiting this site you’ll find a solid introduction, information about the process, sample rubrics and storyboards, as well as links to digital storytelling examples, tools and resources.
Ok we have our framework. Now let’s explore some great resources within Discovery Education. You already know that you have access to thousands of images, videos, sound effects and music (all of which can be used in a Digital Story) within Discovery Education. What you might not know is that there is a fantastic 83 page teacher’s guide that details everything-youwanted-to-know-about-incorporating-filmmaking-into-your-curriculum-but-were-afraid-to-ask. Discovery Education has partnered with the American Film Institute (AFI) to bring you LIGHTS, CAMERA, EDUCATION! an online application of AFI K-12 Screen Education’s face-to-face workshop series that provides teachers with the tools and skills to incorporate filmmaking into their curriculum. This series includes sample storyboards, rubrics, lighting information, and step-by-step instructions for creating your own “door scene.” Don’t know what a door scene is? Log into www.discoveryeducation.com and type in “AFI” into your search bar. Be sure to click on the related materials tab to find the teacher’s guide referenced above. Digital Storytelling Web 2.0 In the presentation that I’ve shared with you I outline a number of Web 2.0 sites that are fantastic tools for publishing you and your students’ work. The great thing about Web 2.0 tools is that they can be accessed by any computer (Mac/PC) from anywhere that there is an internet connection. Most of these Web 2.0 sites even have mobile apps. Since these sites can be accessed anywhere at anytime student work can start in one place and be revised/finished in another. In the presentation I’ve outlined four great sites for producing content and one really interesting way to tell a story using music and Google Earth. If you haven’t experienced the Wilderness Downtown - I encourage you to click on the link and check it out. It will knock your socks off! Note: that this link works best in Google Chrome. Digital Storytelling On the Go! I also outline some of my favorite mobile apps for digital storytelling. Check out the last section of the presentation for more details. I learned about one of the coolest mobile apps for digital storytelling from Hall Davidson. He is an amazing wealth of information, an even more amazing speaker, and a great friend. When he showed me how to green screen with an iphone/ipad/ itouch I was in awe. Check out the mobile section on the next page to learn about this cool tool. And speaking of great colleagues... Lance Rougeux (Twitter handle @lrougeux) has written a phenomenal resource for you to use this summer. He has created a 62 page, 40-day enrichment packet for grades 5-6. Wow! It is pretty special. I will link to it each week but you definitely should check it out. Lance posted it on the DEN Blog. Here is a link to his summer packet.
Created by Lance Rougeux
Discovery Education Webinar Schedule
As I mentioned above, I learned about this mobile green screening tool from Hall Davidson.
Green Screen Movie FX By epocfield
The app costs $1.99 but is well worth it. By installing this app on your iPad, iTouch or iPhone 3g or better you can: • use an effect known as Chroma Key or Green Screen • provide a simple, fun and quick way select multiple colors in the viewfinder • instantly replace it with a video or picture of your choice I’ve seen Hall use a Discovery Education video of a beating heart and then, by simply using a green index card, transform that card into a human heart. Way cool!
Dates
Time (EST)
5/21
7pm 8pm
Discovery Education Middle School 101. Follow your webinar guide through the sub-categories to discover inquiry problems, conceptual explorations, and assessments. Learn how to navigate the sections to interact, watch, and read, using virtual labs, videos, and articles. The webinar also shows you how to use assignment builders and assessments to guide and measure your students’ understanding and mastery.
5/22
7pm 8pm
Discovery Education: Back to School Sneak Peek. Be the first to get a look at back-to-school updates to Discovery Education resources! You've asked for it, and we've listened: get a sneak peek at the exciting changes we're making to Discovery Education this summer, and find out how we're going mobile, social, and adding even more functionality for you and your students. We'll also explore the latest content, features, and resources that are available to you right now. Don't miss this exclusive preview!
5/24
7pm 8pm
Sites and Strategies for Summer Surfing. Get ready for some summer fun! Join Lance Rougeux, Steve Dembo and friends for a fast-paced session where they?ll share some of their favorite instructional technology resources, strategies and ideas for you to explore this summer.
Help Me Make Matt’s Tips and Tricks Even Better I am always looking for ways to improve Matt’s Tips and Tricks and your feed back is invaluable to me. With that in mind I’ve created a short 15 question survey. I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts. If you can take a moment to fill out this super fast survey it will go a long way to making each edition better than the next!
Here is a link to their download.
What is a DEN Star Member? The Discovery Educator Network (DEN) is a global community of educators passionate about teaching with digital media, sharing resources, collaborating, and networking. With over 100,000 members providing professional development to over 600,000 educators worldwide, the DEN connects teachers both on-line and inperson. Discovery Educators have exclusive access to a wide range of resources, professional development activities, networking opportunities, exclusive Discovery Educator events and more. Find out how you can be part of this dynamic and supportive community. Become a DEN Star today!
Link
Miss a week? Catch back up here! 5/14/2012
5/7/2012
4/30/2012
4/23/2012
4/16/2012
Who Knew We Had News? Find an additional set of free Discovery News videos, the Video Yearbook, video almanac, and great webinar information. Roadshow App for playing back videos on-demand is reviewed. My Five Favorite Summer Resources. We explore five free interactive sites that parents, students, and teachers can use over the summer. We’ll also explore a free translation app for mobile devices. Getting Your Game On. Finding great games, simulations and more within Discovery Education. Back-toSchool Sneak Peek Webinars announced. Futaba Classroom Games for Kids iPad app explored. Getting the Point with PowerPoint and Keynote. Learn how to trim audio & video in PPT and save both PPT & Keynote presentations as images to embed in Web 2.0 sites. 2 Screens and Joinme mobile presentation apps explored. It’s all about the Theme. We’ll explore several different ways to find unique thematic content. Three most voted upon stories revealed. Studyblue mobile flashcard app highlighted
4/9/2012
Scratch and Pop. Six-Word Story finalists revealed. Links between Discovery Education and Scratch.mit.edu, Popplet.com and EduTechr mobile app explored.
4/2/2012
Mi Content es Su Content. Bookmarking and sharing your Discovery Education content across your school and district, two great contests, and two text-to-sign mobile apps
3/26/2012
Can You Picture it? Learn how to create a six-word story using iPiccy.com and Discovery Education.
3/19/2012
3/12/2012
2/27/2012
Digital Story Challenge! MeeGenius Audiobook app for mobile devices.
12/19/2011
Audio Book ‘em Dano. Eight simple steps for creating an audiobook using iTunes and any computer (Mac/PC). Molecules mobile apps.
Special Holiday Edition 13 Tips from Educators around the US and Canada, Videolicious App
12/12/2011
50 Ways to Use Discovery Education Tips and tricks galore iSwifter - Flash for iPads
11/28/2011
What I am Thankful for Building out your PLN Wordspree and Math Acorn Apps
11/14/2011
Things I Stole From the Community DEN Tips, Four really cool tips you can do with Google. TED and Animoto apps
11/7/2011
First Six Weeks Aggregated
11/4/2011
Creating an “iCenter" How to create an ePub using DE videos. Spirit of Innovation Challenge
10/24/2011
Spooky Edition Digital Storytelling, Web 2.0 Piqua City Community Night, Crazy Pumpkin and Halloween Card Creator Apps
10/17/2011
Stick it to IT Collaborative Note Taking Site Educator Spotlight - Jennifer Everett, ToonTastic and PuppetPals Apps
10/3/2011
Opening Up Closed-Captions Closed-Captions for Macs and PCs, 10 FAQs Customer Service Receives
9/26/2011
Common Core, Web 2.0 and DE Three cool sites that integrate nicely with Discovery Education. Administrator Spotlight - Molly Hay!
9/13/2011
Can you Hear what I’m Writing? Embedding an eReader into your Writing Prompts, Getting to know Discovery Education SCIENCE
It’s All About The Sharing. Uploading, sharing and accessing your own content within Discovery Discovery Education. Cel.Ly app polling device via any device. Teacher Center Treasure Trove of Resources. Interactive Calendar Atlas, STEM Connect explored. Socrative App (student response).
2/13/2012
Special Valentines Issue - Things I love about Discovery Education. Five Minute Preps, Images,Coaches Eye App
2/6/2012
What did you say? Closed Captioning on an iPad? Getting Closed Captions to play on your iPad, GreenScreens on iPhone/iPad with GreenScreen FX app
1/30/2012
1/23/2012
Let’s Give Them Something To Sing About Differentiated Instruction Using Songs, First Student Media Contest of the Year, ShowMe and Educreations whiteboard apps Meet the Faces of Discovery Education Get up close and personal with the Discovery Education on-air talent, special student webinar series, Story Kit app
1/18/2012
In a Class of Their Own Setting up Discovery Education Classrooms, Discovery Education Live Webinars, Quizlet App.
1/9/2012
Building out the New Year Five of my favorite things you can do with the Discovery Education Builders, Rover App for DE Students