Video Storytelling

I bought a relatively expensive SLR camera several years ago, particularly to take pictures and videos of my kids playing sports.  While the quality of both video and digital photos is still high quality with this camera, I find myself "forgetting" to take it to events.  Why is this?


More and more, single use devices, like cameras, are falling by the wayside for "normal" users.  By normal, I mean people who are not photographers or photography enthusiasts.  So much easier to bring an IPhone, IPad or Android phone to events to take photos or video.  Consider the functionality:

• Instant photos/videos
• Relatively good quality...around the 8MP range for camera phones
• Instant upload to YouTube, Facebook, etc...
• Convenient size for purse or pockets
• Multi-use devices

I am finding myself investing more and more time in learning how to use my IPad and my wife's IPhone in creative and interesting ways, exploring apps, finding places to take interesting pictures and videos.  In this process, I am actually taking MORE pictures of my kids than I was with a regular camera.

Some helpful tools that I am exploring for personal and professional uses:

IMovie for IPhone or IPad ($4.99)

Just like the awesome desktop version, IMovie lets you make quick and easy movies on the IPad or IPhone, adding music, narration and effects with a short learning curve.  Also allows you to edit your videos quickly and efficiently and share online through YouTube, Facebook and others. 

Silent Movie Director ($0.99)

SMD lets you create fun videos to share.  1920s style black/white or sepia silent films, 60's-70's retro and other special effects.  

Sonic Pics ($2.99)

Sonic Pics allows you to create and edit your photos, putting them into a dynamic slideshow.  Add narration and effects to create a video documentary!  Slides are also exportable in m4v format for viewing in Itunes or other Apple device.

Strip Designer ($2.99)

POW!  Use photos from your phone, IPad or downloaded from Facebook to create stunning digital comic strips.  Add features and fonts, captions and word bubbles

The applications for classroom use of these apps are virtually limitless.

New Technology Helps Burn Calories At Work

Well...OK.  You really don't burn too many calories, but this technology is certainly coming and has real potential for use in the classroom and home.

Microsoft, makers of the XBox Kinect--a gesture recognition gaming system--announced at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show that Kinect technology will be coming to Windows in February.  What does this really mean?

The primary point of interest in gesture-recognition computing is that it "frees" users from the device.  Computing--finding and manipulating technology, using programs or apps, watching TV--will not be dependent upon traditional input devices (keyboards, mouse, touch screens, remotes).  Gesture-recognition frees the user from having to have traditional points of contact with a device.  And here I was eyeing up a touch screen computer!

Combined with increasingly cost efficient LCD and LED TVs and projectors, this makes sitting in front of a computer for presentations, work in groups or even basic computing less important.  The potential is limited only to what we can imagine at this point.  My favorite quote from Steve Jobs might apply:

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.

Some innovative "hackers" (aka designers), for instance, have developed Kinect technology for use at hospitals.

Microsoft also announced recently that they are developing Kinect Sesame Street TV, a completely interactive game/TV hybrid where children can throw a ball to Grover (on the screen) and he will catch it...an he will throw it back, among other features.

Finally, a new way to shop for clothes is being tested.

So...this is cool, but how does it impact my educational practices and improve student learning?

Once the technology becomes more effective and gesture sensitive, the ability to get away from the board--blackboard, whiteboard, and even the Smartboard--frees the educator to move around the room and makes EVERY surface a learning environment.  The Kinect or other gesture-recognition device also:

• Reduces the need for schools won't need to buy $2000-$6000 Smartboard (with projector) and affix them to the wall when it can buy an $700 projector (or less) and a $250 Kinect (for computer).  Coupled with the fact that the price of technology (Apple excluded) generally goes down over time, these estimated prices might be high.
• Allows students of every age and ABILITY to interact with their own education.
• Accounts, almost automatically, for student differences and abilities.
• Moves education from a 2D environment to a 3D environment

As I reread this post, I think I am vastly underselling or underestimating the importance of this next step in our technological evolution.  I hope that some of you who think farther outside of the box than I do can come up with more...?