Project Based Learning Viewed Through a Digital Lens

Posted by David Wetzel

Often we search for meaningful ways to integrate digital technology in project based learning activities given to our students. We also would like our students to develop a thorough understanding of the concepts underlying the work – after all this is the purpose of the project.

Giving students the opportunity to complete and present their project through a digital lens has one great advantage – student engagement. This in turn causes students to develop a more in depth understanding of concepts.

Digital Storytelling: Strategies and Techniques

Digital stories typically contain a mixture of digital images, text, recorded audio narration, video clips and/or music. These stories can vary in length; however, optimum length is between four and eight minutes.

For student success with digital storytelling and communicating the findings of their project based learning activity, they often need specific guidelines. This ensures the project’s goals and objectives do not become lost in digital process. For example:

Watershed Project Guidelines (MS/HS)

Research and gather data relating to our local watershed using the following methods:

Interview local residents.
Visit local and regional historical societies to review primary historical records.
Interview local or regional natural resource agency representatives.
Collect water sample and compare water quality data with historical data.
Take digital images and/or digital movies of local watershed features.
Always be safe. Contrary to what you may see on TV, no cool or humorous shot is worth getting injured.

Using the data collected from interviews, historical records, and water quality data:

Create a script of human’s impact on the watershed over the past 100 years, which will be used to narrate the digital story.
Use your images and/or videos to support research findings.
If you use someone else’s photos or images to supplement your project, an attribution slide must be included at the end of your project. Other people’s photos must be copyright free or public domain images.
Select and obtain copyright free music if needed (ensure music does not distract or overwhelm presentation of findings) and an attribution slide must be included at the end of your project.
Be sure to answer your research question in your presentation.
Ensure all statements of findings and conclusions are supported by data and scientific facts.
Presentation must have at least 10 images or video clips.
Presentation must be between 5 and 6 minutes long.
Project presentation must use (see next section).

Tools for Digital Storytelling Presentation

There are numerous Web 2.0 and computer tools available for project based learning activities. These tools create loads of opportunities for students to develop original project presentations through a digital lens.

The following are example digital tools students can use to tell their project’s story.

Podcasting – a podcast can be uploaded to a class wiki or blog and viewed using an iPod, MP3 player or computer. A podcast can be projected on an interactive white board for presentation.

Glogster – students can create an interactive poster to tell the story of their project based learning activity.

PowerPoint or Keynote – which can be converted into a SlideShare and uploaded to class wiki or blog for sharing with other classes and schools.

Prezi – allows the integration of videos and images for a presentation. It also offers the ability to zoom in or out and move around a presentation to slide to focus on key points.

Voice Thread – this Web 2.0 tool not only supports a group’s presentation, it also allows others record comments about their project.

Linking project based learning with digital storytelling is natural. The integration of digital technology motivates students, allows them to easily share their work, and encourages collaborative learning. This in turn helps them develop a more in depth understanding of science and math concepts through a digital lens.

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Filed Under: Math, Science, Technology

Tags: copyright free music, digital images, digital storytelling, engaging students in projects, podcasting, project based learning, student presentations, voicethread, web 20 tools

Tips and Tricks for Podcasting - Part 3

Posted by David Wetzel

This is third and final installment on “Tips and Tricks for Podcasting” and focuses on GarageBand.

Garageband is a powerful software program for creating podcasts and offers enough sophistication to allow you to produce quality recordings.

Now let’s take a look at some tips and tricks for GarageBand.

Create a Template

Creating a podcast template in GarageBand saves hours of work. This is especially important when creating numerous podcasts for yourself or when working with students.

To create a podcast template:

Select “Save as…” under file menu
Then select “Create a Template”when editing a podcast session

It is important to create all the essential elements which will be part of every podcast. You will still have the ability to add any unique elements you need for a specific podcast in the future.

Enhancing Audio

Although you may have taken many precautions to prevent noise from sources other than a speaker when recording, some will probably still be present.

Some tips and tricks to make a voice recording crystal clear include the following:

To add a new effect, open “Track Info Pane,” then go to “Edit” tab and click on the empty spot that says, “Click here to add an effect”.
Select “Speech Enhancer” for reducing noise background noise. It is preset for female/male voices and can be stacked to reduce of eliminate a loud noises.
Select “AUBandPass” for filter high-pitched voices or enhancing a boring voice in an audio recording.

Adding and Editing Markers

If you want to upload podcasts to iTunes or other hosting services you will need to add markers to your podcast recordings.

When you add a marker to a podcast, it appears in the podcast track as a marker region.

Marker regions show how long the artwork or URLs you add to a marker last, and you can move them or re-size them to change their duration.

To begin - select a podcast track.

The podcast track appears above the other tracks in the timeline, and the editor opens showing the marker list, with columns for the start time, artwork, chapter title, URL title, and URL for each marker.

Note: A podcast can have either a podcast track or a video track, but not both. If you try to show the podcast track for a project that contains a video track, a dialog appears asking if you want to replace the video track with a podcast track.

To add a marker:

Move the play-head to the place where you want to add the marker.
Click the “Add Marker” button.

The marker appears in the editor, and the start time for the marker appears in the Time column in the marker’s row. The marker also appears as a marker region in the podcast track.

You can edit marker regions just like other regions in the timeline to control when artwork and URLs appear and how long they are visible when you play the podcast.

Recording Levels

Watch your voice recording levels to prevent clipping. This is accomplished by ensuring strong recording levels do not enter the red zone.

In a digital world, recording meters which enter red zones result in clipping. Clipping causes broken and intermittent audio.

If you need to increase audio levels, do so after during editing.

Keyboard Short Cuts

Learning keyboard shortcuts can save a lot of time when recording, editing, and uploading. Check out the keyboard short cuts here.

Creating a Video Podcast

Creating a video podcast is similar to creating an audio podcast, except that the video podcast includes a video file and does not include artwork.

Use following steps to create video podcast:

Send an iMovie project to GarageBand or import a video file from the Media Browser.
Create the podcast audio in GarageBand.

When you have created your video podcast in GarageBand, you can send it to iWeb or export it to your website, blog, or wiki.

These are fundamental tips and tricks are not intended to be all inclusive, if you have others feel free to share them in the comments section for others to see.

Additional Resources

Tips and Tricks for Podcasting - Part 1

Tips and Tricks for Podcasting - Part 2

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Filed Under: Math, Science, Technology

Tags: audio, creating templates, garageband, keyboard shortcuts, podcasting, recording, tips and tricks, video

Tips and Tricks for Podcasting - Part 2

Posted by David Wetzel

This is the second part of a three part series focusing on tips and tricks for podcasting.

Now for more tricks and tips for podcasts - recording and posting.

Recording Podcasts: Software Programs

There are two primary software programs for teachers and students to use in recording podcasts, which are Audacity and GarageBand.

Audacity – is a free downloadable program used for PCs and Macs.

Audacity is a multi-track recording software program. This means you can record or import various sections of audio and have them overlap or play at the same time. You can move tracks around to have them start and stop at specific times.

Audacity has six tools, although you will find most podcasts only require the use of the Selection and Timeshift tools when recording and editing.

One drawback with Audacity, unlike GarageBand, is the need to import all music and sound effects from other sources. See the royalty free music section below for good resources.

LAME – after downloading Audacity, you will also need to download a free copy of LAME for exporting podcast recordings as MP3 files to your website, wiki, hosting service, or iTunes.

Use the following instructions to help with downloading and installing Audacity or LAME if you have any difficulties.

GarageBand – comes installed on all new Macs. The third part of this podcast series focuses tips and tricks for using GarageBand for making podcasts.

Royalty Free Music

One issue which causes problems when creating podcasts is using royalty free music or sound effects to avoid copyright violations. The simple solution here is to not use music or sounds; however, there are many occasions where the addition of music or sound effects enhance a podcast.

Students will want to use their favorite music sound tracks and are often oblivious to copyright laws.

Teachers need to insist all music and sound tracks come from GarageBand or the following royalty and copyright free web resources when using Audacity:

Incompetech.com – music tracks

Partners in Rhyme.com – music tracks and sound effects

Posting Podcasts for Student Use

There are a few of options for making podcasts available for students. An important consideration for these options is all material must be royalty and copyright free.

Class Website, Blog, or Wiki – this is a good option for most teachers. Students and even parents can access the podcasts. Although this is the easiest method, there is no way to keep track of how many times a specific podcast was downloaded.

iTunes – allows free uploading and downloading of podcasts. Students can subscribe to iTunes (in reality many students are already subscribing) and have broadcasts automatically downloaded to their computers, iPad, or iPhone.

Once they are downloaded they can listen or transfer it to their iPod. Subscribing is a great idea because it eliminates the need to check the iTunes website or class website, blog, or wiki to see if new broadcasts were posted.

Each time a specific podcast is downloaded it is recorded, offering teachers with a method of determining the usefulness or a specific podcast.

Hosting Services – sometimes teachers find both Audacity and GarageBand are not options for them. The following are user freely podcasting services which allow you to record a podcast, post it for others to download or listen, and also provide a means for embedding a link to the podcast on your class website, blog, or wiki.