As it was, I stuck to the tried and true Screencastify, but I used it to make a video for my flipped classroom.. I overlaid it on Nearpod to do a Bridges Problem String that we would follow up during the next in-class session. It is 34 minutes long, but that is the lesson that is outlined in Bridges.
In Teacher Created Videos for Remote Learning. (2020). Edutopia. they recommend videos be kept to 5-7 minutes. As our school district asked us to do two 20 minute videos (or Zoom classes) it would run counter to the advice. When listening to Rushton and Jon, another barrier for us would be the no phone rule in elementary. We could get around that by giving students permission to use phones when creating videos at home.
Video can be used as a learning tool as I have used it in my Problem String #27: Multiply fraction by a whole number. It is direct instruction that can be revisited as many times as the student needs. The exact same Nearpod can be used live to assess whether the students are able to complete it successfully. Or if they are not in school they can do that same Nearpod asynchronously. Of course I would add a Flipgrid to have students show me their learning in a video. Then I would have their peers give them actionable feedback. This would have the students creating their video not just for me but their peers as well.
I noticed that during the webinar Hurley, Rushton et al. (2020). Activities Across Grade Levels: Simple Video Editing. Webinar. NextVista.org. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE2cO1XR9qE&feature=emb_logo., they had the camera angle shooting about 45 degrees downward. The normal position of one's face as they look at a laptop screen. My question is "Is this the best shot for making instructional videos?" I am using screencastify and embedding myself in the video. But as I am looking at the screen I notice that my eyes are not looking at my audience. Any tips? I tried to elevate my laptop but I needed to practice sitting back so I wouldn't cut off the bottom of my face. I also need to get a bigger green screen. Reading these articles made me realize how much I need to learn about making videos, let alone what I need to teach the kids.
Upon reading Sheninger, Eric. (2020). “Moving to a hybrid learning model.” A Principal’s Reflections, I believe that teachers have been working to utilize time better - constantly. This is not new just because we have a pandemic. If our leaders had worked half as hard as they are asking teachers and healthcare workers to do, we would be looking more like New Zealand or Iceland and not the mess we are now embroiled.
After reading, Sheninger, Eric. (2019). “The pedagogy of blended learning.” A Principal’s Reflections. I was struck by how to utilize small group learning in distance learning. It seems that Break-out Rooms within Zoom allowed for small group collaboration. But as soon as students figured out that they could leave a group that they did not want to interact with, in hopes of getting into a group with their friends, the door never stopped swinging. Also, as soon as they realized that the teacher could only interact with one group at a time and that the teacher's presence was visible, any group that didn't have the teacher present, realized they could goof off or ignore the students they didn't like. I wish Zoom recorded all the breakout rooms with video and audio. I also wish that all groups could be seen at once in a grid. Rather than showing the teacher as joining a group, the teacher's voice should be the only thing that alerts a group to the teacher's presence. I liked the choice boards. But in a distance model, many students do not apply themselves to any choice. What then? As for Tucker, Catlin. (2019). “Flipped Classroom 101: Challenges, Benefits, Design Tips.” I have tried to emulate many of the ideas that Catlin espoused. The biggest difference is that I am using Nearpod, which has interactivity built in and can easily be used live, self-paced or in conjunction with a teacher video. I am still a little nervous to share it on YouTube as the advertisements can be problematic for our younger students.
All in all I really like the list of tools Mr. Marsden has curated. I am going to check out each one once our class is complete. I have so much to learn.