Introduction to iMovie, First Grade
Posted on December 10, 2007 by ps130
Today we are introducing the first grade classes to the iMovie video editing program on the Apple/Mac computers.
Goals:
- create simple slide show presentations using digital photos and student narration
- develop teachers’ understanding of how iMovie can work in the classroom
Process:
- bring students to computers with Rhys working modeling the editing process on a computer next to teachers and students on a neighboring computer
- import all photos on digital cameras into all computers being used
- have students open iMovie on all computers with teachers helping
- add photos to the timeline — allow students to change the sequence of the images by dragging and dropping
- record 1 line of narration per student
- rotate to a new group of students
5 Comments »
Filed under: Classroom Resources, First Grade, Lesson Plans & Rubrics
December 10th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Rhys:
Unfortunately I am not there to see this. This sounds like a great start for the first grade classes. I hope everything runs smoothly. Let me know how it goes.
Mr. Stegman
December 17th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
We’ve worked through our first 2 class sessions with all of the first grade classes.
Here’s what we’ve learned:
* most 1st graders have the motor skills to drag and drop media (photos and audio clips) within iMovie
* with 3 classroom computers and an average of 20 kids per class, there is a limit to how long a teacher can expect the class to work independently on the side, while a teacher guides student on the computers. I’d say, if they have an engaging project the limit would be about 30-40 mins. Teachers, what do you think about that?
* right now we are able to work with 2-3 students per teacher per computer. a good goal by the end of the year would be for a teacher to be able to cycle 2 students per machine on tasks that take them about 5 minutes to do independently, while the rest of the class works independently, with the teacher bouncing back and forth between the computers and the class.
* we need what’s called a “pigtail” to connect the new iMacs to the projector for group work on iMovie.
We should schedule a follow up iMovie workshop in mid-January to discuss these issues further.
I’ll keep posting my notes here until then. Join me, when you have the time!
December 18th, 2007 at 1:24 am
Rhys:
I was glad to be covering Ms. Silvers first grade class today so I can see what the children were able to do. They were progressing so nicely and so quickly. I was very happy with their progress so far. They are doing such a great job. Thank you as well as teaching me the Imovie program.
Mr. Stegman
December 21st, 2007 at 7:40 pm
This week we continued having students add photos to the iMovie timeline and record their narration with varying levels of help from the teacher.
here are some notes:
* From here on out, teachers should work with a number of students they are comfortable with, while I stand by to assist as needed. Ms. Feliciano did this today, and it was a great way to reinforce her skills, and allow me to see what the first graders are capable of. This will allow me to help design projects for the first grade that can be realistically completed without me in the room.
* Each teacher has now completed a movie where each student has recorded narration and added photos to the timeline at least once.
* Some advanced students showed that they are able to work independently on iMovie with loose oversight from the teacher.
* Teachers also experimented with iSight (the built-in camera on their iMacs) which allows kids to video tape themselves reading, directly into iMovie for editing.
Next time
* We will start production on more polished videos that we will eventually publish on the blog
* Teachers: think about what subject you’d like the kids to explore (IDEAS: showcasing photos of their gingerbread houses with written narration about the process; showing photos of illustrations while they read their writing; reading their writing along with photos from the Internet…)
* Also — think about music that you might like to add to your soundtrack. What do the students like? What might go well with your theme? Bring them in on CD and we can add them to your movie.
Great work so far!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Rhys
January 14th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
For the polished projects, each first grade class will create iMovies that showcase their latest books, and present documentary-style information about the authors that inspired them.
The process will be:
1. Write a script that introduces the author, and how he influenced the class books.
2. Find images on the Internet that compliment the script by searching http://search.creativecommons.org , or http://images.google.com for Key Words
3. Capture images of the student books — this can be done using the i-Sight cameras on the new iMacs, or with the digital camera
4. Record student narration in iMovie and match all of the images above with their narration