ELEM Webcams and Flip Video Cameras at K-2

Hi All,

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It seems that there are MANY more of us that are looking forward to
integrating flip video cameras and webcams into our programs than those
that have actually done it. When I first posted the Q I got about 23
requests for a HIT, but no suggestions. A second call for sharing
brought in nearly as many requests for a hit and a few people that were
willing to share their experiences with the Flips.......but nothing
about using webcams in your programs. If anyone has anything on webcams
in their libs I'm willing to post a follow-up HIT.

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Here is the info I rec'd from those of you using flip videos. Many
thanks to Kay Melrose who shared her PDF write-up (listed last). So
many incredible ideas!! Thanks to all who shared!!

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We are using the Sony Small Wonder cameras in our elementary schools to
support a wonderful and fun program called "BookTube". We wrote a grant
for the equipment. You can read the grant here
http://www.mrsd.org/~library/videocasting.htm

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We just presented at our state conference - here's our description:

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BookTube

This innovative videocasting program, funded by a NH Charitable
Foundation/Walker Fund Grant, was piloted in several elementary schools
in the Monadnock Regional School District in the Spring of 2008. A
collaborative reading/writing/videoing project, this focuses on creating
short (under 1 min.) videos of students sharing book reviews of school
library books that they have written in the classroom. The videos are
stored on the internal school network and are available for students to
watch as well as teachers to use for parent events or conferences.

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In February I created a "Love Your Library" video. Students (w/parent
permission ... renewed each year) and staff went on camera talking about
reasons they loved their library. We then posted it to our school blog.
The smallest ones were some of the most excited to do it. In fact, I was
so disappointed I couldn't film two little PreK kids who actually heard
the request on the morning announcements and asked their teacher to take
them to the library so that they could participate. We couldn't get
parents to agree.=20

But of course the same general idea could go across many topics. They
could take the viewer on a video tour of the school (and, perhaps with
the help of some sentence stems, write their own script). They could
make their own version of a Reading Rainbow video, talking about a story
they read (or had read to them). With help they could film a science
experiment. Or interview other students. Or do "how to" videos on
whatever their little heart's desired. Or make public service
announcements for other classes modeling what a well behaved class does
when they walk down the hall, or eat in the cafeteria, or go to the
library by themselves on a pass to check out books.

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I'm high school and use them to record student book talks, which I load
on to the MARC record in Destiny. You can set an expiration so the
talks 'expire' when the student moves on. Unfortunately, our tech
department will not yet let us put our catalog outside the network so I
can't show you. Anyway, this would work for younger students too.

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I just got mine so I haven't explored all it's uses yet, but I keep it
near me all the time to Capture whatever happens.

*1st graders did research on king tut, they jotted down their favorite
finds, we flipped it and

emailed it to their teacher and class!!!! It was in their
classroom before they returned!!!

*my blog that I intend to put questions and storytimes up all this
summer to keep in touch with=20

my kids. Be kind it is my FIRST! http://tinyurl.com/dkbfl feel
free to leave a comment

incase that link is removed. Try tinyurl.com/dkbfl *I just got a
webcam that I am going to hook up so the kids can log in and watch our
sugar glider

which is nocturnal. So we can see what he does after hours.

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Flip Cameras in the Elementary School:

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FLIP Cameras are one of the most used and treasured technology in our
school. They are relatively inexpensive to purchase (about $100), almost
unbreakable, economical by using AA batteries, and easy to upload onto a
TV screen, computer, or e.mail.

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Kindergarten teachers use FLIP's to make short movies with Movie Maker
to show on Mother's Day with each child saying why they love their
mother and on Father's Day with each child saying what they like to do
with their dad. They taped raising and releasing butterflies, tying the
experience directly to the science curriculum. Short videos of children
reading in the ReadWell curriculum documents success in completing
units.=20

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First Grade teachers have used FLIP's to make primary source video of
zoo animals on a zoo field trip and then put these videos into Wild
Animal Reports. Students with special needs are taped reading, problem
solving, and using their reading skills or math skills to learn. It is
especially good for inclusion in IEP documentation.=20

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FLIP's have been used in Art, Music, Dance, and PE classes to satisfy
pieces of the Pro-Certification process. The CBA process (Curriculum
Based Insturction) in Art, Music, Dance and PE for fourth and fifth
grades were largely satisfied by using the FLIP to show completed
projects involving action and display of finished project. Art and Dance
were especially involved in the CBA process.=20

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Second Grade teachers have used FLIP's to make DVD's of the Space Trips
in Science, the Community Study units in Social Studies (each child made
a commercial of their business), the Rain Forest units with a
performance for parents, and a Curiosity project where each child
researched and then presented their project which was then taped and a
disk made for each family. Fathers and friends came to school for Rocket
Day. The completed rockets made of tape and plastic pop bottles were
taped.

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Third Grade teachers use the FLIP's for the individual reports on the
State Units, the longhouses built in the Native American units, and
misc. documentation of science experiments in Plant growth.

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Fourth Grade classes use the FLIP's on field trips like to Olympia, our
state capitol. Students taped each other during the biography reports
and used the tapes to critique work. The CBA (Curriculum Based
Assessment) project in fourth grade involved investigating salmon in the
Columbia River. FLIP's are being used to both show success in completing
the CBA and for students to have prime source materials to work with in
their studies.

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Fifth Grade studies history and their CBA involves the law process. They
plan on using the FLIP's as they debate issues. It helps the students to
focus on the question at hand and refine their debate abilities. They
are also involved in ecological studies. They recorded their science
fair entries and made a nifty movie to share among classes. Parents that
could not come during the day-time fair could also use the movie.=20

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Teachers have used FLIP's to document required pieces of the Pro
Certification process particularly involving student instruction and
classroom management. Teachers use the FLIP's to document projects
involving earning their Master's degrees. The FLIP tapes are evidence of
learning not only for students, but teachers as well. National Board
certification candidates can use a FLIP on a moment's notice making it a
technological dream come true.

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All of our teachers have a website that they each try to keep current.
Go to
http://portalsso.vansd.org/portal/page?_pageid=3D193,1018910,193_1018912:=
1
93_1018916&_dad=3Dportal&_schema=3DPORTAL or Vancouver Schools - =
Chinook
Elementary http://www.vansd.org/ to view the websites. Several teachers
regularly include FLIP tapes on their websites. We do make every child
that is shown have a signed permission slip. Often if that permission
slip is not on file, we ask the parent if it is permitted and get a
permission slip almost immediately. Children are usually not named or
only first names are used. Group shots are sometimes difficult to get
clearance for everyone, but with persistence can be done.

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Our webpages include what we call podcasts from our principal. These
podcasts are particularly interesting to families because they show what
is going on during the school day. Mr. Lapidus, our principal, has done
podcasts on the school carnival, our Presidential Podium, Space
Journeys, the school lunch room, a post office one class made, and one
that is truly amazing on Unicycle Madness
http://portalsso.vansd.org/portal/page?_pageid=3D213,1652331&_dad=3Dporta=
l&_
schema=3DPORTAL =20

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One of the most unusual uses for a FLIP: A young kindergarten child
routinely flips out and tantrums disturbing an entire wing of our school
with his noise. Our principal grabbed a FLIP and made an instant movie
of the teacher carrying this screaming, writhing child to the office. As
soon as he knew he was being taped, he calmed down and asked, ""Please
don't show my mom and my dad those pictures."=20

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Our young teachers and veteran teachers alike value the FLIP's. The main
attraction seems to be their size (about the size of a deck of cards)
and that they download. "Easy to use, no cords or anything. I don't
have to use cassettes with a special adaptor or anything." "Best of all
is to embed a FLIP in a powerpoint as evidence of learning."

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Please contact if you have questions. =20