Last thoughts

The field project was actually fun. But it took me a lot of time due to the fact that the class meets only once a week for 2 hours, and there is no equipment we could use in the classroom. My project really didn’t go as I planned. So I adjust the process along the way. I brought laptops in for students to try Windows Movie Maker. At the end not every student submit the finished WMM video project, and not everyone did the Chinese tones presentation.

The lessons I have learned is that if I were to do this project again I would first look for a “regular” school that has computer lab that students can use. I actually think WMM is a good program for student to to a lot of thing. Later if I got the chance to teach I would use it again for project like digital story telling. Based on the experience I have this time I believe I would plan better, execute better, and get a better result.

Week 12

This week there is no Chinese school because of the Thanksgiving holiday. I contacted the teacher and ask her to send an email to remind the students that they need to finish the movie editing before next Saturday’s class, and they need to prepare a short presentation to introduce the Chinese tones. In the mean time I am preparing for my class project presentation on Monday 11/26. Although my project is not completed yet, but I already have some of information that I can share with the class.

Week 11

This Saturday I demonstrated how to capture video clips from a DV camera. I have changed my plan a bit. Instead of me importing the class video clips into WMM, I used a laptop to show students how to do it and then let students actually capture the clips on 3 laptops. Fortunately the video we shot was not very long. It did not take too long to do it three times. I used the rest of the class time (with no students involved) to burn the WMM project file onto CDs. Every student has received a CD before they leave the school. They will spend their own time to edit the clips and bring the finish product to the school on 12/1. Every student will also give a presentation “introducing Chinese tones” on the same day. Hopefully every student will do they homework.

Week 10

This Saturday we finished shooting the video. Like last week we started at 8:30 AM and finished shortly after 9:30 AM. I wrote a thank you notice to parents for brining their children (who participated in the video shooting) that early to the school. I also brought 2 laptops to the class. Together with the teacher’s laptop we let students explore WMM. I put some pictures and music on each laptop and let students play with Automovie. It took about 15 minutes for all students to have a hands-on experience.

I discussed with the teacher about the possibility for each student to present Chinese tones. She think this is a great idea and made the announcement that each student will do a presentation on December 1. They will explain how Chinese tones work by pretending that everyone in the classroom doesn’t know anything about Chinese language.

During the week I will import the video clips we took into WMM and burn the project file onto CD. Next Saturday I will give the CD to students. They should try to edit the movie at home and bring it to the class on December 1 for sharing. For the next week I will use about 30 minutes of the class time to show the students how to do some editing in WMM. Hopefully everything will work out just fine.

Week 9

Last Saturday we started the first video shooting. It didn’t go very well. Students came to the school around 8:30 AM. We have no previous movie making experience. It seemed chaotic. We did everything again and again. I don’t remember how many takes for every single scene. After 90 minutes we had to stop for the regular class activities. Next Saturday will be the last chance to finish shooting video and we need to move forward to editing the clips, and students need to prepare for their individual presentation as well. I will also spend some time at the next meeting to show the students more detail of using Windows Movie Maker.

Week 8

We have finished planning process in the class on 10/27 and will start shooting videos next week. Students have prepared some materials for the shooting, such as flash cards and cue cards. I will bring a DV-camera to do the shooting. Because we don’t want to use too much of the class time students were asked to come earlier. That will  be 8:30 AM on Saturday. Some students can’t make it, either because they don’t want to get up early or it doesn’t fit their parents’ schedule. Only 5 students will be able to come and do the shooting before the class begins. We will continue shooting on 11/03 and 11/10.

During the last class I also demonstrated how to use Windows Movie Maker. Students like it. Since they can’t use the computer in the classroom (there is only one computer in the room) they will need to try WMM at home. All students in the class have IBM compatible computer at home. WMM should be installed on their computer. The teacher will contact students to make sure that they can find WMM on their computers.

This will be all for this week’s project update.

Project Overview Podcast

Last week I had problem with creating the second podcast. In the beginning I thought it was the problem of Audacity setting. After I checked and even reinstalled Audacity the problem persisted. Next thing I checked was the computer sound card. There was no problem. Finally I found that it was the microphone! I would have never thought that it was the case since I used the same microphone for my last podcast just only 2 weeks ago.

Here is the podcast of my project overview.

Week 7

Pattern of use of technology –

In the past 7 weeks I have learned a lot from the course. But I have not found any change of pattern of my use of technology. I just do the things the same ways I have been doing.

Thinking & speaking about technology –
Although I do not change the pattern of my use of technology, I think more than before when I apply the same technology as did before. I think more about why I use the technology instead of how to use it (since I pretty much know that already).

Project update –
Last Saturday we start planning the project with students. The teacher explained the basics of tones and how they work, and what part should be emphasized more. I have spent about 10 minutes to talk about the concept of using Windows Movie Maker. The students then had 15 minutes to discuss what they want to do with their group assignment. In the next meeting we discuss and finalize the planning.

Podcast -

I have some problem with my Audacity. I am trying to figure out what’s going wrong. I will try to post my podcast later.

Week 6

The project

Till now I have met the teacher and students twice. They are exited about the project they are going to do. Last week we have decided the group assignment. There will be 3 groups, each group will be in charge of one of the three tasks – script writing, video shooting/acting, and editing. The teacher will help students with the script writing and I assist them in the shooting and editing part. After the individual group has decided their initial plan they will discuss their plan with the entire class and make some necessary revisions.

The class takes place every Saturday 9:30 – 11:30 AM. Students can plan their parts using 20-30 minutes of the class time, but we need extra time to shoot the video. Students agree to come an hour earlier (at 8:30 AM) to do the shooting. Following is the timeline of the project. Hopefully it will work out well.

10/20 Planing – script writing, video shooting/acting, editing
10/27 Discussion – final revision for the entire project
11/03 (8:30-9:30) Shooting the video; (during the class) introducing Windows Movie Maker
11/10 (8:30-9:30) Shooting the video; (during the class) introducing Windows Movie Maker
11/17 Editing – Windows Movie Maker
12/01 Class presentation

Week 5

It is fun to create podcast using Audacity. But it took me a lot of time to edit the tracks. Here is the link of my first postcast assignment.

Due to some technical difficulties I have decided to change my project setting from the online class to a traditional classroom. I contacted a teacher of the Mid-Jersey Chinese School. It is a heritage Chinese school. That says the students are the second generation Chinese – what we call ABC (America Born Chinese). The class meets every Saturday morning for two hours (9:30 ~ 11:30). The teacher is teaching Practical Chinese 7. There are 13 students, 7 boys and 6 girls, age from 12 to 16. I went to the class during the weekend to discuss the project with the teacher. She like the idea and is interested in the Windows Movie Maker. We will probably let students use Windows Movie Maker to create an instructional video about Chinese language. I will be going to the class again next Saturday and finalize the project.