Green Screens Help Teachers Provide Instruction through Projects and Technology

by:  Karla Koenen

This past summer Krystal Austad (4^th grade teacher) and I attended the two day Technology in Classrooms Conference hosted by Keystone AEA.  We attended a session titled, “I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Green Screen!” hosted by Jonathan Wylie, Technology Consultant from Grant Wood AEA.  During that session, Krystal and I were introduced to the app “Green Screen by Do Ink.”  Krystal and I immediately brainstormed some project ideas and attempted to create our very first mini-project during the work part of the session.  We soon learned that we needed more practice with the app before we would feel confident to share this app with students.  We learned that a weatherman’s job is much more difficult than we imagined!

Fast forward to the start of the 2015-16 school year.  Krystal and I continued to kick around our ideas, and we finally decided to dive in with a Green Screen video project!  Krystal’s 4^th grade class visited the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center for a multiple day swim experience.  Krystal took pictures of her class at the Aquatic Center and then asked each student to compile a news report using the Writing Process.  Students then honed their speaking skills by delivering the news report to one another.  Students practiced announcing their reports with expression, practiced speaking loudly and clearly, and practiced using phrases such as “Back to you in the studio!”

As a Technology Integration Coach, I consulted with Krystal regarding the use of the Green Screen and the knowledge we had gained from our summer tech session.  I spent time myself practicing to be a reporter so I could know what challenges our students would possibly face when it came time to record their actual news report.  Over three one-hour sessions, every student in Krystal’s class was able to record their individual news reports in front of the green screen.  Using the green screen was truly a team effort as all individual students helped with the recording process at some point in time.  Even though we only see the on air reporters, we talked about how we know that camera people, production managers, etc. are working behind the scenes.

Students in Krystal Austad's 4th grade class work on various aspect of recording reports using Green Screens.

Students stood in front of the plain green material to deliver their news report “live” from the Aquatic Center, even though they were truly standing in the hallway just outside the classroom. Upon completion of the recording, students were then excited to view their news report with an image from their swim experience at the Aquatic Center behind them!  Students were even thrilled to use a microphone to help deliver the news report!

Using the “Green Screen by Do Ink” app proved to be a valuable tool to extend the student’s learning.  News reports were also shared with families via a QR Code.  

Ella:   http://viewpure.com/dXDuy8uxN-o?ref=bkmk

Grace:  http://viewpure.com/Cf03qQDXBVE?ref=bkmk










If you are interested in working with a building TIC (Technology Integration Coach) on a project similar to this or any technology project, contact your district TICS here.

Collaboration = Celebration

The first grade teachers at Echo Hill Elementary wanted to teach their students about Holiday traditions around the world.  Normally, they taught their students about these traditions themselves.  However, this year they decided to bring in outside speakers.  Brook Martens contacted, Sheri Crandall, instructional coach at the HS and former Spanish teacher, to teach the first graders about Las Posadas, one of the Mexican Christmas traditions.

Sheri worked with Laura Robertson, instructional coach at Echo Hill, to set up a reenactment for the first grade students.  First graders went from classroom to classroom, asking for shelter and were turned away, until they made it back to the first grade pod, where Mrs. Robertson invited them in and told them they were welcome.  At the last house, all are welcomed in and drink Mexican hot chocolate, break a piñata and celebrate and eat together.  Sheri showed the first graders how hot chocolate or “chocolate” is made in Mexico. 

All first graders got to try the authentic Mexican hot chocolate.  Sheri and the students discussed the many facets that make up the Hispanic Holiday Celebrations, which begin on December 9, by honoring the Virgen of Guadalupe.  Official Catholic accounts state that the Virgin Mary appeared four times before Juan Diego. We discussed the legend and how Juan Diego was able to convince the archbishop of Mexico City to build a basilica in her honor.  After celebrating the Virgen of Guadalupe from Dec 9-12, Las Pasadas exist from Dec 16-24^th.  December 24^th is the main night (Nochebuena).  Las Posadas cumulates with the celebration of midnight mass, lasting many hours.  December 28 – el dia de los inocentes (similar to our April Fool’s day) is followed by the arrival of the 3 Kings on Jan. 6^th.  Children tie their “wishes” to balloons 3 days prior and send them up to the sky so the 3 Kings will know what to bring them.  The almost 2 month celebration comes to an end on February 2^nd with el dia de la candelaria.

The first graders listened intently as they learned about this celebration and were able to expand their horizons as they learned about many diverse celebrations throughout the world during their week of study.  What made the lesson the most meaningful was the ability to allow the first graders to actually act out Las Posadas by going from classroom to classroom and the willingness to participate by many of the teachers at Echo Hill.  This hands on experience would not have been possible with the two instructional coaches working together.  This experience shines a light on how collaboration can take place between secondary and elementary educators.  Collaboration wins again! 

Mentoring New Teachers Deserves Celebration

~Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know.

Daniel J. Boorstin

Jennie Lorenzen(Middle School Mentor Coach) Sue Atwater (High School Mentor Coach) and Carol Kesl(Elementary Mentor Coach) prepare for a recent book study and celebration with Linn-Mar's first and second year teachers.

If you have attended PLC, you know how important it is to celebrate the accomplishments of your staff, teams, and students.  You know that even small steps in the right direction deserve applause.  This philosophy is one the Mentor Coaches at Linn-Mar Schools understand and live by with their first and second year teachers.  

Coming into the education profession today is no easy task.  For many new teachers they have plenty of content knowledge from college, and some practicum/student teaching experience, but not always do they have all the tools in their teacher bags to face all the various situations that arise in the classroom.  Linn-Mar's Mentor Coaches have spent a tremendous amount of time observing, coaching, listening, reflecting, and advising new teachers on best student engagement strategies, best instructional practice, and classroom management.  They see that new teachers are equipped with the materials they need, and that they implement, and use our district curriculum with fidelity.  

I marvel at all they do, but I also marvel at our new staff, and how they rise to the occasion and follow what our Mentor Coaches, and Mentor program has outlines for them.  In addition to all the day to day support that Mentors provide staff, they also host a book study with the teachers. 

This month the Mentor Coaches decided that they needed to honor the strides and progress their teachers have made with a celebration for all the first and second year K-12 teachers in the district.  It was complete with games, team building, collegial conversations, food, fun, and gifts.  Hats off to our Mentor Coaches and the work they are doing to strengthen new teachers in our district.