Just a Tease

From the survey data collected, podcast technology is pretty foreign to most of the NESS Liaisons, Instructional Coaches, and even the New Educators. To spark interest a Podcast Teaser was sent to the NESS School Liaisons (and even a few Assistant Principals). An email reply is listed below the Teaser.

COMING SOON!
HRD Podcast

A New Educator Support System Resource
Fall 2006

AP Response to the Teaser: Hey, is there anything that I am suppose to see besides that it is coming soon?
RD reply: Nothing more than the message. Just wanted to spike your curiosity.
AP Response: Well you did!

I wonder who else caught the tease?

Today the Teaser continued with a few “Did You Know” questions:
1) Did you know that podcasts is not just a great way to receive the latest current events or music, but this technology is another resource to reinforce new ideas and concepts?

2) Did you know New Educators, Instructional Coaches, and NESS Liaisons can download podcasts and listen wherever they go, whenever they like?

3) Did you know New Educators, Instructional Coaches, and NESS Liaisons will have 24/7 access to HRD podcasts?

4) Did you know your can use iTunes software, which is available free for Mac and PC, to automatically download the HRD podcasts files? Once subscribed, you can move the files to an mp3 player or listen/view on your computers.

Time to Focus

I have sent out the following survey to the South Central NESS School Liaisons, Instructional Coaches, and New Educators. The results might assist me in narrowing my question/ focus the study. I will follow the Qualitative Data Analysis process to make sense of the data.

1. Please indicate your level: Elementary, Middle, High, or Center
2. I am a… New Educator, Instructional Coach, or School Liaison
3. Have you viewed/listened to a podcast? Yes or No (if N0 then answer question #11 only)
4. What type of podcast? Audio, Video, or Both Audio and Video
5. Do you use iTunes to access your podcasts? (if Yes then skip question #6)
6. If not iTunes, what do you use to access your podcasts?
7. Do you use an iPod to view and/or listen to your podcasts? (if Yes then skip question #8)
8. If not an iPod, how do you view and/or listen to your podcast?
9. Do you currently subscribe to a podcast? (if Yes then answer question #10)
10. Please list your top two frequently subscribed podcasts.
11. What assistance do you need with podcast technology?

Time

It is difficult to keep track of my work time when editing an iMovie. A change in the process made quite a bit of difference. To reduce transfer time and to avoid wasted memory space I no longer import the entire clip. My earlier movies would take one hour to import to the computer per data cassette and then a few additional hours watching and cropping. Now I only import selected sections, reducing the import time to less than 30 minutes.

The time does vary depending if the message/purpose of the iMovie is clear (that is another post) and how “focused” I am during the process. I usually import the clips from the video camera at home while I try and edit/crop during my daily discretionary time. If I had to volunteer a time for the entire process I would feel comfortable with one to two hours from import to draft clip. Even though I have reduced the import time, more of my energy is focused on smooth audio transitions (another post) and using Garage Band for the voice-overs and original music.

Garage Band

I have started using Garage Band for my music and "voice-overs". The Logitech external microphone did not provide the desired volume I was hoping for; the internal microphone on the G4 laptop provided a louder sound without distortion as shown by the staying in the "green" area in the sound meter. Even though you hear the ancillary fan/hard drive noise in the background, this does not appear to be a distraction. Additionally, making your own music is beyond "cool". Different music genres and tempos what might be appropriate for some iMovie clips might not be for others. The "Starting the Day" iMovie could use a score with slower Beats Per Minute (BPM) while the "Questions" clip which shows a quicker pace has higher BPM.

My Question

I am starting with “What is the relationship to instructional podcasts and teacher development?” This is vague on purpose. The data I will collect will assist in the narrowing of the question.

When thinking about the Glass Box of this Action Research question, the MUTLIPLE variables of podcasts and teacher development is a not just a concern, but a driving force.

With podcasts current variables (not to say additional ones will be added) include: smooth video transitions, smooth audio transitions, clear podcast message/purpose, alignment of audio and video, appropriate audio volume, how video content is supported by the marketing, and providing the skills, coaching, and feedback for our clients to use in coaching environment.

Teacher development and measuring the professional areas of classroom management, instruction, organization, planning, communication, assessment, home/school relationships.

The development of the AR Data plan will assist me in narrowing the question.

Descriptions

Today was the first day I sat down with other HRD NESS Program Facilitators to review the iMovies and determine a tagline for the podcast description. The three of us managed to review each clip and a draft description for each. I realized I need additional feedback before posting. I will rewrite our notes and seek feedback from additional HRD Producers outside Teacher Development and from a few NESS Liaisons.

Our web designer requested two iMovie clips for a trial post. The following the description that was submitted:

For the clip Elem_Phonics the tagline will read: Using response boards to help keep students engaged during Phonics instruction (modeled by an Primary Elementary school teacher)

For the clip Sec_NonlinRep the tagline will read: Scaffolding instruction is used to relate prior knowledge to a new concept (from maps to stage directions as modeled by a Secondary Theatre teacher)

Teacher Reflection

After submitting a podcast-ready clip back to the teacher for feedback, her first comment was, “I see things I can do differently.” Not what I expected to hear. Yet an obvious result of videotaping for a podcast was the personal reflection of the teacher being taped. I think I will need to interview the teachers who volunteer for taping.

The clip (E_LeavingClassroom) was filmed on the sixth day of school of a teacher in her fourth year in the profession and new to Broward.

Edit and Time

I thought with each attempt in developing an iMovie clip the editing time would decrease. I have noticed that there is a direct connection with the content and the message in relation to the editing time. Factor in the editing responsibility to make the Teacher look AWESOME and I have learned that not all clips are equal.

Perhaps I need to keep track of my exact time.