Math/Science/Health integration project

Create a digital video that illustrates an important concept that you learned in science, mathematics, and/or health in this course. We would especially encourage movies that demonstrate an integration between math/science/health concepts . Your video will be presented in class as scheduled.

Resources:

Sample iMovies

Here are a couple of iMovies that were created by previous Pacific students who completed this assignment.

Grumpy's Dilemma, a video about geometry, dwarves, castles, and flats

Shopping for Shapes with the Shape Detectives, a video about stores and cylinders.

An example of a multimedia presentation that I created during this course using PowerPoint and a digital movie camera:

Electrical Circuits PowerPoint
Do light bulbs in a circuit light simultaneously or in rapid sequence? Posted here is a PowerPoint presentation created created by the instructor and based on our investigation into this question in class. (Note: This presentation is viewed best using Internet Explorer and not Netscape Navigator).

An example of this same content about electrical circuits, but this time presented as an iMovie, not a PowerPoint Presentation.

Circuits Circus iMovie
This iMovie was created by a group of students in the MAT 5th year program at Pacific University. They created it in about 90 minutes with only a brief introduction to the features of iMovie. They worked from a storyboard that had been prepared for them in advance by the instructor. I've posted here a very small version of the movie to preserve memory space, but I think you can get the idea.

Students in K-12 classrooms are use digital video as a tool to enhance their own learning. Visit the Innovative Video in Education (IViE) website sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education to view a number of excellent multimedia projects created by K-12 students in a variety of subject areas.

I also would particularly recommend the Butterfly iMovie for the way it documents a scientific inquiry by a second grade student. Some of the video shots are simply amazing, especially in the second half of the movie as the chrysalis is formed before your eyes.

Jon Small contributed these two websites about digital storytelling in education (an emerging topic in the field that is worth a google search).

University of Houston site--click on examples to see some of what is being discussed. This site is designed for Windows XP users and Mac users will have to have Windows Media Player and some patience.
Powaya school district in California--do not miss the new digital storytelling site as well as the initial video that shows first graders reading.

Resources for planning and doing video with K-12 students

Kent School District Digital Media Production
From physical setup to management strategies, this website from the Kent Washington School District, gives you everything you need to know as a teacher to help your class produce videos. (Thanks to Alice Christie's digital media site for this link).
iMovie support--From the Apple iMovie website, here are more detailed descriptions of how to make an iMovie. Topics include working with photos, adding effects, and working with Audio. This page also includes an excellent link to step-by-step iMovie tutorials if you would like a more structured approach.

Assignment Specs:

Your final video will be about 5-10 minutes in length.
Work in groups of 3-5 students.
Your final product will be a digital video. You will show it to the entire class.
We would especially encourage videos that demonstrate an integration between math/science/health concepts
You must also turn in a treatment, storyboard, and a group task log with your final project
- A treatment is a brief synopsis of what your video will be about. Include in your treatment the names of the members of your group and their roles and responsibilities.
- A story board shows in rough cartoon form the action, actors, and camera angles for your video along with any critical dialog. This visual roadmap is the key to helping everyone work together.
- A group task log that tells what roles each member took, what each member did, and how much time was involved.

Checkout procedures:

Digital video cameras. In order to edit your video in iMovie or Windows MovieMaker, you need to film it using a digital video camera. We have two of these available for online checkout. COE lab staff are in charge of equipment checkout and their hours are listed at the Carnegie lab. COE office staff may also be available to help you pick up equipment if lab staff are not scheduled. Please limit your checkout to 24 hours of well-planned filming so that others have a chance to use the camera. You will need to provide your own digital videocassette tape (also called miniDV tapes). These are available at Fred Meyers (and other fine stores) or check one out from Jeff Cooper at the lab.
Computers with iMovie or Windows MovieMaker. After you film you will need to capture your video using computer software. All Macs in our lab have iMovie; All Windows desktop computers have MovieMaker. There are also a limited number of iBook laptops available for online checkout if you want to work away from Pacific.
- Technical note: iMovie creates huge files that do not move readily from one computer to the next until you have a final project. For best results choose one computer to do your group’s movie on and stay with that computer. As a result you also do NOT save these files to the student folders, as there isn't enough room.

Suggestions:

Here are some suggested possible roles to assume in this project
- Video editor: You will be responsible for editing the group's final movie (with the assistance of the group) and preparing to show it in class. You might want to have 2 people doing this.
- Writer: You will write the treatment and storyboard for the group (with the assistance of the group) and turn it in with the final project.
- Camera: You will learn how to use a DIGITAL video camera with a FireWire connection. Note that the key to this project is shooting good shots with good sound that will require a minimum of editing. You are welcome to take turns in your group doing this job if more than one person is interested in learning how to use the camera.
- Screen talent and other jobs: You will be the one who appears on the screen as needed in telling your story—you’re the star!

Here's a suggested timeline for the tasks in your project
- Select your group, assign roles, and write your treatment.
- Submit your treatment for approval
- Set the date when you are going to film and sign up for the camera.
- Create your storyboard
- Film the project with the storyboard as your guide
- Edit your movie and save it on one of our computers. as a Quicktime movie
- Prepare to show on a computer in class. This might be your own laptop, or one of ours that you checked out.
Additional support:

iMovie support--From the Apple iMovie website, here are more detailed descriptions of how to make an iMovie. Topics include working with photos, adding effects, and working with Audio. This page also includes an excellent link to step-by-step iMovie tutorials if you would like a more structured approach.
Windows Movie maker: how to...--from the Microsoft website, a more detailed description of how to make digital video using MovieMaker.

Math/Science/Health Integration project:

A moving end to the semester