+Vlogs, Blogs and Pod-Casts: Providing Vocabulary and Content Support at Home to Increase Student Retention
Michelle Halvorsen, Texas School for the DeafAustin, TX
+What are Vlogs and Pod-Casts?
Vlog (Vod-Cast) Video that can be uploaded to a website or downloaded to
a student’s iPod for students to use a resource when reviewing vocabulary
Example videos on my blog (this year’s blog): http://halvorsenbiology.wordpress.com/
Pod-Cast An audio recording that can be uploaded to a website or
downloaded to a student’s iPod for students to use as a resource when reviewing vocabulary
+Why Use Teacher-Created Vlogs
or Pod-Casts?
Provides specific vocabulary and/or content support at home that directly relates to what has happened or is happening in your classroom
Increases student retention
Increases student participation and engagement
Increases parent awareness of topics covered in class
EASY to create and upload!
+How I First Used Vlogs: My
Action Research Project
Students were given a Pre-Test to assess key vocabulary
During the unit, I created and posted a video review each day that new material was presented
Students were required to view and respond to the review videos (graded component to encourage participation)
Students were given a Post-Test to re-asses key vocabulary and to determine progress
+Impact on Student Performance
(Pre-Test vs Post-Test Scores)
During my action research: All students (except one) who viewed four or more videos
showed at least a 7 point (25%) increase from their pre-test to their post-test
All students (except one) who viewed four or more videos received a passing score on the post-test
In contrast, the student who viewed only three out of seven videos showed a 15% point decrease from the pre-test to the post-test
Overall, this post-test had some of the highest scores of the year
Students who consistently viewed videos were also more engaged and participated more easily and freely during class discussions
+Other Uses of Vod-Casts Students create their own!
Use for review or final projects
Use to document labs or do a video lab report
Use for discussions of current events
+Vlog/Pod-Cast Materials:
What Do You Need?
Computer
Vlogs: Web-cam, digital camera or video camera iMovie (Mac), Movie-maker (PC) software for vlogs or AVS
Video Editor (free software)
Pod-Casts Audacity (free software for recording and editing) Garage
Band, or iTunes for pod-casts Microphone (available at most electronic stores for $20-30)
+The A-B-Cs of Vlogs and Pod-
Casts
Decide how often you will create your videos or pod-casts Each day, once each week, towards the end of a unit, etc
Write a short script to follow while making your video or pod-cast
Record your video or pod-cast
Edit (if necessary) your video or pod-cast
Post your video or pod-cast to your class blog, email to students and parents, and/or upload directly to student’s iPods
+Step by Step Video Creation Using iMovie
Open iMovie
Click “Create a New Project”
Name your project
Click on Camera (“Built-in-iSight”)
When ready, click on “Record with iSight”
Film your movie, click again on “Record with iSight” to stop filming
Save
+Step by Step Video Creation Using iMovie
Drag Clip to bottom area “Drag Clips here to Build Your Project”
Edit (view Tutorials online for more advanced editing)
Save
Get ready for uploading: To Website: Click “Share-Quick Time” and choose web-
streaming and name your project To student’s iPods: Click “Share-iPod” and then click share
Your movie is now ready for uploading or transferring to a student’s iPod
+Step by Step Audio Pod-Cast Using Audacity Software Open Audacity Software
Plug in microphone/headset if you are using it
When ready, press Red button to record (you can press the blue pause button during recording to pause)
When finished, press the Yellow Square to stop when completely finished
Edit (view Audacity tutorials for advanced information)
Exporting: Click “File-Export As WAV” and name the file (this is a Windows
program) Click “File-Export As MP3) and name the file (to do this, you must also
download the free LAME software)
+Blogs
Very easy to set up
A place to upload your videos or Pod-Casts
Also great for announcements such as homework or test dates
Suggested FREE sites: wordpress.com (cannot directly upload videos, must link to
a site such as TeacherTube or YouTube) blogspot.com (can directly upload video files)
+Helpful Links
iMovie Tutorials: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#imovie
GarageBand Tutorials: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#garageband
Movie Maker Tutorials: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/default.mspx
Audacity Audio Recorder and Editor: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
AVS Video Editor: http://www.avs4you.com/AVS-Video-Editor.aspx?sct=aff&ct=regnow&cid=175028
Sites to upload your videos: http://teachertube.com/ or http://teachertube.com/
+That’s a Wrap…
To download this PPT, visit http://halvorsenclasses.wordpress.com/
Feel free to contact me: [email protected]
Questions???
If you would like to stay and play more with the software to make your own Vlog or Pod-Cast, please feel free to stick around!