Diary of a Techie Chick: iMovie

Showing posts with label iMovie. Show all posts

GTA 2014 ....

Today I took a step closer to becoming a Google Certified Trainer. I submitted my application to be considered to become a Google Certified Teacher and attend the Google Teacher Academy this summer. Over spring break I passed the tests and became a Google Educator.

Part of the application process is creating a 1 minute video showing how you innovate in the classroom or educational community to generate a positive change. Using some of my iMovie skills and pictures I had of my students working with a variety of tools I created the following 1 minute video clip. In the pictures you will see my students seeing a different reality via Augmented Reality, creating Green-Screen projects, and using a variety of Google Tools including Google Draw for illustrating. My favorite pictures are they ones of students using Google Glass. That tools has really blown the minds of my students.

I like to think that I inspire others to think outside the box, see a different kind of reality, to look beyond what they know, and to create something original. I hope this video shows that. It is really hard to put everything you want to say in only 1 minute. I wanted to add all the conferences and Edcamps I have attended as well as presented at and the many ways I connect and share Google Apps with educators. I think I would have needed 5 minutes just for that alone.

On the Scene Reporter for Ancient Greece ......

My 6th grade students have been busy writing a report for Ancient Greece. Once they had their report created they got to become a reporter on the scene via an iPad app called Veescope Live. After my students had recorded their parts with the green-screen app they imported their recordings into the iMovie app. With a little creativity and a twist of techie magic my students created some pretty neat news reports.

There are many projects students can create with the green-screen app and the iMovie app such as book report, news report, short story, and etc.... When using the green-screen app it is wise to have students pair up to help each other out. I also suggest that students create themselves cue cards. That way students are looking toward the iPad when recording. Students also need to record in a quiet place and they need to speak up when recording. The microphone is on the iPad and will pick up the sounds nearest to it. With the Veescoope app students do not necessary need to recored in front of a green-screen or a green wall. They just need to be in front of a solid color background or wall.

Google Draw + Green-Screen + iMovie = Amazing

For our end of the semester project my students combined 3 powerful tools together to create a one of a kind digital story. Before they could even start drawing, recoding, and publishing their stories they first had to write them. Once their stories were on paper they got busy putting shapes together to create their illustrations. They used Google Draw for this part of the project. The only requirement was that they needed at least 4 scenes for their stories. After they had finished creating their illustrations they downloaded each one as a jpeg file. Since they had to use the computer to use Google Draw and the Green-Screen app was on their iPads they had to email themselves their picture files. Once they had their picture files saved to the camera roll on their iPad they could use the app Veescope Live Full version to record themselves telling their stories in front of my green wall. After all the recording were done they imported all of their recordings into iMovie and put together their stories.

Click Here for Student Stories - Check often as we are still finishing our stories.

App / Tool of the Week .... Google Draw

My students have been busy learning how to use Google Draw to illustrate for a children's story. They learned that they could layer shapes over other shapes to create a totally different shape or object. They also discovered that they could group their shapes together to avoid messing up their new object or shape.

I like to give my students a day of "Sandbox Day". On this day they get a chance to play around and learn a new app or tool. The only instruction I give them is explore and discover what the app or tool can do. Some students take off and go to town exploring, discovering, and trying different things. While others just look at the screen with a blank stare while repeating out loud that don't know what to do. As teachers we can't assume just because they are kids and they have grown up with all of this technology around them that they know how to use it. I like think of myself as a cheerleader for my kids. I encourage them to try things, click on something, hover your mouse over items or tools. Once they get over the fear of trying something new some amazing creations start to flow.

Google Draw is free and can be found in your Google Drive. I suggest you play, click, explore, and
build something with this tool. It can be great tool for math, story telling, a writing prompt, and etc... It does have auto save like Google Docs and Google Sheets. I suggest making sure that you name each drawing so you don't end up with a dozen Untitled Draws. You can even make folders and save your drawing to them.

To use your Google Drawing as an image I suggest you download it as a jepg file. This way you can import your drawing into apps, iMovie, web tools and etc... When you are drawing you will notice your workspace has gray and white squares. If you do not cover your entire work area with shapes or color those squares will become a white background after you download your image.

Willy the Wiggle Worm - Created in Google Draw

A Little Green-Screen Fun....

I teach technology skills and part of that is keyboarding skills. This latest typing project involved kids having a little fun with the Green-Screen. They had to write and type up a Mini Movie Script or Trailer. Once they had their movie script turned in they could record their scenes in front of the Green-Screen. This project was a fun way of incorporating typing skills and speaking skills.

We used the Green-Screen App Veescope Live Full version. Student recorded each scene using the app. Their recordings were saved automatically to their camera roll. Once they had finished recording their scenes they dragged and dropped their scenes in the iMovie app. With a little creativity their written mini movie script became a fun video.

Green-Screen Effect on the iPad ....

with Katie Ann Wilson

After I started in using my Green-Screen in my classroom it became a buzz around our school. Since I have computers I can use to create the Green-Screen effect teachers that have iPads asked if there was an app for that. I did a little digging and research, even though there is an iMovie app it does not do the Green-Screen effect at this time. This discovery made me look into other apps and if it was even possible to create the Green-Screen effect with the iPad and not costing an arm and a leg. My search lead me to Veescope Full. The app does coast $2.99 but I think it worth it. Veescope Full is very easy to use. You select an image from your Photo Library on your iPad, stand in front of your Green-Screen, or in my case my green wall and record. The image you had picked from your Photo Library is now your background. Once you finish with your recording it saves in your Photo Library on your iPad. You can share it like you would any video or photo.

I have tried doing the Green-Screen effect just using my iPad to record and doing the effect in iMovie on the computer. Now that I have used the iPad to create the Green-Screen effect video I have to say the Veescope Full app is much easier. The only issue I had and this could be the techie in me is that you can't change the background image during a recording unless you stopped the recording change the background and then continued recording. Maybe in the future the company will add a feature that will let you rotate background images while recording.

Tip:

Do not download the Live version. It will cost you $2.99 in app purchase to create a Green-Screen effect video. Download the FULL version.
You can really use any solid color to do the effect, just don't let the person recording wear the same color as the background they are standing in front of. I did find out that green is still the best color to use.
Invest in a tripod and iPad mount to help keep your videos from having the swaying feel to them.
Record in a silent area.

Courses/Workshops:

I am now offering some courses/workshops on the topic of Green-Screen an iPad.

Visit my website for more details. - www.katieannwilson.com

Looks What Playing....

To make sure I included writing, listening, speaking skills into my keyboarding class I had my students illustrate, write, and record a digital story. They recorded their stories in front of the green-screen so that their illustrations would be displayed behind them as they told their stories. It took several takes but we finally had our stories.

Tools Used:

The iPad's built in camera for recording.
A tripod with a iPad mount to hold the iPad still.
iMovie to put it all together.

Steps Before Recording Stories:

Students created their illustrations in Google Draw. Students could draw out their illustrations on paper and scan them. Illustrations just need to be digital to be added to iMove.
Students composed their stories in Google Docs.
Students practice in front of the green-screen several times before recording.

Steps in Creating Our Digital Stories:

Illustrations need to be saved as a jpeg (a picture file) and imported into iPhoto if using a Mac or saved in a folder on your Windows computer.
Video recordings need to be imported into iPhoto if using a Mac or imported into your Windows video editing software.
In iMovie create a new Project without any themes.
On the story board in iMovie drag and drop your illustrations in order. They can be found when you click on the camera icon on the bottom right side.
You can change the timing of your pictures by click on the arrow on your illustrations placed on the story board. On most of my illustrations we had them timed to 10 seconds.
Add a Title and the Author slide those can be found right tight next to the camera icon by clicking on the T icon.
Change the Preference settings in iMovie so that you can see the Advance Tools. (You only have to do this once.)
Drag your video and drop it onto your illustrations on the story board. You must drop your video ON TOP of your illustrations in the story board. You will see a Green Circle with a Plus Sign. When you do drop your video and choose Green-Screen.
Adjust your timing so that your illustrations match up with your story telling. (This does take practice.)
Share your creation. I have uploaded our stories to my teacher YouTube account and also have housed them on a Symbaloo board.

Tech Tips:

Record in a silent area. We discovered that the mic on the iPad loved to pick up background sounds.
Practice telling your stories several times before recording. This helps relax the storyteller.
Don't delete video recordings off the iPad or camera until after your project is finished. Just in case you delete the video off the computer you still have the original recording.
If you are using a Windows computer you will need to be familiar with its video editing software.

To view our stories you can visit my Teachers YouTube Channel or my Symbaloo board.

Digital Storytelling the Green-Screen Way....

As part as a rule I have for myself I never have my students do anything I haven't done. So with that in mind I created a digital story with a green-screen effect. Their assignment was to illustrate a story using Google Draw and then record themselves telling their story in front of the green-screen. After they are done recording their story then they are to import their video into iMovie and put together their Digital Story with a little help from me.

The 1st step in creating a green-screen effect digital story is to have your illustrations done first followed by your story typed up. It is best to memorize your story so that you appear that you are telling your story not reading it from a script. I do recommend that you practice several times telling your story in front of the green-screen before you record it.

Here is my story I created for my students.

Steps:

Draw your illustrations. (I used Google Draw.)
Record in front of the green-screen telling the story. (I used the video recorder on my iPad.)
Import your video into iMovie.
On the story board in iMovie drag and drop your illustrations in order. You can change the timing of your pictures. On most of my illustrations I had them timed to 10 seconds.
Add a Title and the Author.
Change the Preference settings in iMovie so that you can see the Advance Tools. (You only have to do this once.)
Drag your video and drop it onto your illustrations on the story board. You will see a Green Circle with a Plus Sign. When you do drop your video and choose Green-Screen.
Adjust your timing so that your illustrations match up with your story telling. (This does take practice.)
Share your creation. I uploaded my story to my teacher YouTube account.

Tips:

Record in a quiet room.
Be patient.
Make sure you have Advance Tools showing in iMovie.

Your story board should look like this once you have overlaid your video
on top of your illustrations.

I did find an iPad app that does do Green-Screen effects. I will post more information about the app once I have had a chance to really play with it.

Now in Production ....

My 6th grade Social Studies classes have been working on Ancient Greece. They were given the task of creating an artifact from that time period. They had to then research what the artifact was and how it was used. Once they had their artifact created, their research completed and typed up then they were to record infront of the Green-Screen. The goal of this part of the project is to have pictures of their artifact displaying behind them as they tell about their artifact. Below is an example of our project. Keep in mind we are still learning how to work with the Green-Screen and I have 20 students in the room while we are recording. We are also only using an iPad to do our recordings.

Tips:

Record in a very quiet area.
Students need to practice standing still and delivering their presentations.
Have your iPad, Flip Camera, etc... on a stand.
Train students to be your "Tech Aides".

The Software:

We used the built in camera on the iPad to record our video clips.
We used iMovie to create our Green-Screen video project. We had to change the preferences in iMove to "Show Advance settings" before we can add the Green-Screen effect.

As we finish this project I will post the step by step instructions we did to finalize our Ancient Greece Artifact Project.

Ethan in the Clouds....

Ethan in the Clouds ....

I recently attending the MACE 2013 conference in Manhattan, KS. One of the session I attended was Digital Media and the use of Green-Screens and Digital Storytelling. During Spring Break I took a portion of one of my classroom walls and painted it green. My son Ethan had to be my 1st victim, I mean volunteer to demonstrate the use of a Green-Screen. Using iMovie I made a 50 second clip putting Ethan in various scenic photographs.

You can use still photographs or video clips and overlay on top of either another photograph or video clip as long as your main subject is in front of a green or blue screen.

My Goal:

I teach my students how to draw using Google Draw. This nine weeks they will be working on a creative writing project were they will use Google Draw to illustrate their story. Once they are done with their story they will tell their story infront of the Green-Screen. I will them show them how to overlay their video of them telling their story on their illustrations. My vision is to have my students become apart of their story.

Tech Tips:

If you are wearing green don't be in front of the Green-Screen.
Use a lot of light to get rid of shadows.
Turn on Advance Settings in iMovie.