Week+Four

=Let's Make a MOVIE! =

flickr.com/photos/ ndevil/3817840201/
 * 1) We began class by discussing the new iPad. Here are my thoughts:
 * Apple's products are often the leader in its field. From the iPod to the iPhone, Apple has a way of putting out great products that catch the eye of many people. However, along with the praise often comes criticism. The main complaint I have heard about the iPad is regarding its **inability to multi task**. As a mac owner, I have become accustomed to doing things in a certain way. I often have several programs running at once and rely on this to smoothly manage what I need to do. If the iPad cannot do this, I feel it may be more of a hassle that a tool I could use. **Here is an article that discusses this issue: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10444141-64.html**
 * **As a teacher****, I feel that the iPad has its advantages**. I would love to have a program running on my iPad, which was being displayed on the screen for my students, and have the ability to be anywhere in the classroom and not just stuck behind a computer at the front of the class.
 * **I can't say I will buy an iPad, but I will be keeping my eyes and ears open to the user reviews as they start to come out.**

2. The rest of the class was allocated to learning to film and edit a movie! commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/File:Video_Camera.JPG

I am a HUGE fan of filming and editing videos. I've done a fair amount of it in the past in my gr. 10, 11, and 12 communications technology classes. However, I've always used iMovie, so this was the first time I got to experience using Windows Movie Maker. Unfortunately, it was **NOT** a good experience. I was working on my film with Jesse, and after filming what we though was going to make a very funny video, the uploading and importing process would not work! So, after trying to solve the problem throughout the class with not luck, I was left to make a video on my own time. Needless to say, I went back to using good old reliable iMovie!

I decided I wanted to make a short film using a stop-go style. I've never tried this animation approach before, and was really excited to give it a try. I think the final product turned out well, although it is definitely not my best work. I learnt that the stop-go process takes a lot of work, and is very time consuming, but if executed correctly could be a great technique.

__**Students could use movie making as a learning tool in several different ways**__.
 * Using the stop-go animation style, students could have inanimate objects (like the stuffed microbes seen in my film below) act out a scene in the book they are studying or demonstrate what is happening inside a cell for their biology assignment.
 * Students could also film themselves giving a speech. This could be a great tool for students who get nervous presenting in front of the class. The student can film their speech somewhere they feel comfortable and then the video could be shown to the class or watched only by the teacher.
 * Making a video can also allow students to bring their teacher and classmates out of the classroom, virtually, to somewhere they wouldn't be able to go physically. Examples of this would be filming a tour around the parliament buildings for Civics class or explaining the habits of animals in the woods for Science class.
 * THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!

Without further ado, may I present my short film "Giant Microbes"

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This Week's Reading __**I Don't Need Your Network (or Your Computer, or Your Tech Plan, or Your...) by Will Richardson**__

I think that by incorporating the technology that kids are already using is a really smart move for us as teachers. The video **"Phonebook"** that is mentioned in the article is a really interesting example of this. I was trying to think of ways that teacher could incorporate a cellphone into their lesson. Here's what I came up with: I also found a great source "22 iPhone Apps for Science Geeks" @http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/07/20-iphone-apps/ all of which would be great for use in the classroom. I may just need to go out and buy an iPhone or iPod touch now!!!
 * Using the GPS function to have students go on a scientific scavenger hunt,
 * Students can take pictures of various items to help illustrate a project they are working on, and
 * Performing virtual labs that couldn't otherwise be completed in class.