New Story Starts

This new video set for Story Starts won't be available until Jan 8th 2008 but here's the link ready for you!

This programme consists of nine short drama sequences that can be used in the classroom to stimulate creative writing amongst primary pupils.

Each story start presents a different scenario and characters which are open to interpretation by pupils and teachers, including:

- a girl who wanders into a spooky basement
- a kite that causes trouble in high winds
- a piglet that explores a farm

Each individual story start ends on a cliff-hanger, encouraging pupils to continue the story from this point.

Link to webpage: Story Starts 3

Story Starts 2

This programme focuses on three teachers, working across Key Stages 1 and 2, using specially designed whiteboard resources to teach literacy.

Offering a visual stimulus helps to develop with a class a common experience which the teacher can build upon using a variety of techniques like role play, group work and writing.

The children are engaged and excited as the teachers bring to life the demands of the curriculum.

To watch all three story starts featured in this programme, in addition to a further four bonus story starts, click here.

Link to site: Story Starts 2

Story Starts 1

More stuff from Teachers TV, this time about Story Starts on an interactive whiteboard.

This programe features seven video clips that are designed for teachers to use on their interactive whiteboard when teaching literacy.

Suitable for Years 1 - 7, each of the short clips sets up an environment or a narrative that can be used to fire the children's imagination.

An alluring jewellery shop, a ghostly graveyard and a tunnel with a warning are just three of exciting story starts included.

Advisor and deputy headteacher Simon Botten introduces the programme, providing some tips on how best to use these resources.

Link to the webpage: Story Starts 1

Teachers TV - Dangle

Reading Film at KS1: Dangle

An opportunity to view the short, live-action film Dangle, and to find out from writer/director Phil Traill about the making of the film.

Phil reveals where the idea for the film came from, and how the script evolved. He also describes the process of creating a storyboard and the decisions behind the use of different camera shots, such as close-ups, mid-shots and wide shots.

Sound plays a very important role in Dangle, though there is no dialogue and no music. The film also features some clever special effects; notably, making it look as though the sun can be turned on and off via a rope hanging down from the sky

Link to the webpage here: Dangle - Teachers TV

There's also some resources linked to the film.

Link to resources webpage here: Dangle Resources - Teachers TV

TA Training Presentations

We've been asked to provide a copy of the presentation that was used by Chris at the Golf Hotel.

It's a big file so I've had to spilt it into three areas:

Thinking about film

Using Storyboards

Using figurative language

Link to the downloads: Here!

2Animate Guide

Just in case you haven't found the .pdf file which is on the 2Animate disk, here's the guide for you to download and view.

As 2Animate is so very simple to use you may not need it!

2Animate Guide download

Planning to use film

These easy to use planning sheets are linked to both full length feature films and the short films available through the BFI.

They follow each year group and provide information on suggested BFI/Feature film links to year group and unit.

The link is here: Planning to use film.

Animation Activities from Film Education

These downloadable sheets, from our friends at Film Education, have facts and activities based on a range of animations that are available to buy.

Very useful for planning lessons which use film as starting point for creativity.

Film Education - Animation Activities

The Jabberwocky

Stop Motion Booklet

You should have a copy of this when the twilight sessions are being run but here's a downloadable version: Stop Motion Booklet

Animation Days - Year 1 'Not Now Bernard'

I've put together a full version of 'Not Now Bernard' by David McKee from all the fantastic animations produced by Year 1 over the days that John and I have being running throughout the schools on this year's Package D.

Take a look. It's fantastic.

Simple Podcasting

If you want to know more then contact me:

andrew.dickenson@netlinc.org.uk

Sound Effects

This site: Soundsnap is new and allows people to share sound effect files, so there should be something for everyone.

Nice big buttons and easy to 'Right Click mouse button - Save Target As..' on the sounds you want.

They're available as mp3/wav/aiff.

(Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is an audio file format standard used for storing sound data for personal computers - but choose either mp3 or wav!)

Visioning Day - 18th Jan 2008

Date for all your diaries:

18th January 2008 - Visioning Day - Olde Barn, Marsden.



(Click on the link for details of venue and directions via the hotel's site.)

LAFTAs 2007 - Lincolnshire Echo

Here's a link to the Lincolnshire Echo piece about the LAFTAs.

Strange but there's no mention of Oscar winner, Hollywood star and local resident Jim Broadbent!

LAFTAs 2007

Many thanks to those involved in bringing children to and from the event, for those who came along and to those who performed the music during the interval.

A huge thanks goes to the staff and the pupils because the whole event was to celebrate the fantastic film makers and animators who created the fabulous movies we enjoyed watching.

Congratulations to those who won and congratulations to those who didn't. Everyone involved was amazed at the talent unearthed.

A special thank you goes to Jim Broadbent, Jeannie, John, Rob and Anton because without them it would not have been the success it was.

We must also thank the Engine Shed for a superb venue and the university for their support too, thanks!

Everyone working with this year's schools are already looking forward to next year, so no pressure there then!

Hopefully all, or some, of the films entered will be available on the blog soon.

The Dark is Rising - New Film Education Resource online

Some of your pupils will be familiar with the sequence of books by Susan Cooper.

The Dark is Rising tells the story of Will Stanton, who learns on the eve of his 11th birthday that he is actually the last of the "Old Ones," a group of immortal warriors and guardians dedicated to fighting the forces of the Dark. The Dark is amidst its last great Rising to defeat the Light and take free will from the human race forever. Will, having been born with a great gift of power, is called upon a monumental heroic quest.

Film Education have released a site linked to the new film based on the book:
The Dark is Rising.

It has links to Literacy, English, Art & Design, Maths and History apparently!

Look Again Guide - BFI

Look Again Download

This accessible and persuasive guide is for teachers of children from three to eleven years old, to help them extend and improve the way they use and teach about the moving image media. It has been developed by a UK-wide team of early years and primary teachers, advisers and teacher trainers.

Look Again! provides eight basic teaching techniques for the close study of film and television, a wealth of practical ideas for engaging children in analysis of moving image media, and powerful arguments for the value of such work in children's learning. It outlines the close connections between teaching literacy and cineliteracy, details how to engage children in the early years in discussing different aspects of moving image media and how to integrate these activities across the curriculum in primary schools.

The guide includes advice on how to manage teaching and learning in early years settings, classrooms and across the school, a model for learning progression, and an extensive list of further resources and resource providers.

Blogging Info

I've been asked to include the two blogging sites I mentioned at the Visioning Day in Hemswell.

www.blogger.com allows the users to add video, images and text - but the stats are only from a counter you add yourself.

www.wordpress.com allows the user to add images and text. Using wordpress help and typing in 'slideshow' allows the user to create a slideshow of images. Stats are excellent and the user can create a walled garden approach by selecting not to include the address on Google or technorati (search engines). A favourite with schools.

Audit the Pupils document

Click here for a link to the download.

Documents from the Visioning Day 18/09/07

Click here to visit the download page.

The documents have been made available by Jeannie and Chris.

Blogging course

Just to let you know, there's a Blogging for Beginners course on the 5th December at the Mary Knox Centre.

I'll be getting people to set their own class blogs up and much more during the day.

It's in the new green course catalogue, although the date has now bee confirmed.

Book early!

IT Professional

Writing Jigsaw

Creating a movie to upload

I used Microsoft's Movie Maker 2 to create a file small enough not to take ages to upload or buffer for others to watch.

Here's how:

1. Import your files or open a previously made video file. If you need to, add the imported files into the timeline and edit your movie together.
2. Go to Finish Movie and Save to My Computer
3. Give your masterpiece a name
4. When prompted, choose Other Settings to set the file size - I choose Video for ISDN 48kbps to make it compact and bijou

The small size makes it easy for others to view the video via your site, it does however lose quality so it's up to you whether to choose a slightly greater size to improve the image and sound but wait a while to upload or buffer.

Be aware that most people won't wait for ever for a video to buffer across!

Subscribe to the blog using Google RSS Reader

Keep up to date with what's new on the Visual Literacy blog by using:

www.google.com/reader

It's easy to use, just follow the instructions or even watch the video!

How to blog guide

The downloadable guide (in Publisher 2003) is available by clicking on the link below:

A Simple Guide to a Simple Blog

Visioning Day - Hemswell Court

The Agenda is as follows:

Coffee on arrival - 9.15

Session 1 - 9.30
Introduction, welcome

Coffee - 10.30

Session 2 - 11.00
Blogs et al

Lunch 12.00

Session 3 13.00
Progression led byDavid Sleight (Lincoln University)

Session 4 14.00
Helen Mytum Espresso

Finish 3.15
Tea available

Map of the local area: CLICK HERE

The Video Camera

You should be aware by now, because Steve Garner will have contacted the school, we are no longer advising schools to purchase the Digital Blue DMC2 or DMC3 video cameras for Visual Literacy.

After issues with a codec linked to the exported .avi file being used in Movie Maker or being seen in Media Player, it was felt best that an alternative was offered.

After extensive searching and testing the Aiptek DV6800S was found to be the most suitable, the link takes you to the CPC Farnell site where the cameras can be purchased.

We also advise that you purchase 1GB SD Cards to go with the cameras. These dramatically increase the amount of video that can be taken and stored.

Visioning Day - Hemswell Cliff

Just to show you how easy it's to add video; here's a Jabberwocky animation.

It was edited together using animations created by pupils.

Animation day training letter

The above link (click on the header) goes to a letter which was sent to schools regarding the first pupil training day, for animation.

You also need to contact John or Andrew to arrange the staff 'Stop Motion' training twilight.

John and Andrew can be contacted via 01522 833350