Let the iPad Tell a Science (Digital) Story Roger Pence, Benicia Unified School District Touro University California Graduate School of Education NSTA Area Conference 2013, Portland, OR Resources and Presentation materials: https://dsinscience.wikispaces.com

Some things we’ll cover Digital Storytelling in Science?! What makes this a learning (as opposed to playing) activity? Where’s the rigor?! How are students engaged and motivated? What Common Core and NGSS standards does DS meet? What ISTE NETS-S are covered in DS? What is a common classroom workflow/timeframe? What are alternative apps to iMovie? Let’s see some student samples and a sample creation “live” DS right before our eyes!!

What’s so special about DS on an iPad?! Simple , touch interface Like using a giant iPhone All components of DS are self-contained Device is very portable (helps immensely when recording a script) It may well be they way people collaborate in the future

What makes this a learning (as opposed to playing) activity? Content research can be as challenging as the instructor wants to make it. Requires concise writing and revision to work as a script Many different skills can be practiced and woven together to make a whole Authentic collaboration to achieve a goal. Learn/demonstrate visual literacy Learn to speak in a presentation voice Provides an opportunity for peer review and critique Digital Storytelling Across the Curriculum – Bernajean Porter

Where’s the rigor?! Research prompts can define content requirements Students can be challenged to push further than classroom content Setting a “visual literacy bar” can be worth its weight in gold Grammar, clarity, and spoken word skills can be required and assessed.

How are students engaged and motivated? Construct their own understanding of the content Ownership of final product Know they’ll share it Allows social time Get to pick how they portray the required content

What Common Core standards does DS meet? Common Core State Standards at a glance

What ISTE NETS-S are covered in DS? Creativity and Innovation Communication and Collaboration Research and Information Fluency Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making Digital Citizenship Technology Operations and Concepts

Why in Science?! Science is visual, is itself a story, and has many stories of people involved in thinking. cross-curricular connections and meaningful context Pictures can convey abstract meaning that words alone may miss Gives kids an engaging, challenging and fun way to learn science and do research. Cultivates visual literacy (what makes a particular picture especially effective at telling the story?)

Next Generation Science Standards Connections Cross-curricular connections between science, math, history, art, language arts Authentic pathway to STEAM (where A is for Arts) Allows for students to create visual and auditory explanations of science principles Cultivates respect for the practices of scientists as discoverers and seekers of the truth They can practice science communication

Science Story Ideas Newton’s Laws of Motion and me Solids, Liquids and Gases in my life The science behind technology Predator/prey relationships from their point of view Survival in a biome A scientist I know Women in science African-Americans, Asians, and Latinos in science Envision a future space mission Research past space missions

More Science Ideas… Ocean exploration Ocean fisheries preservation Opinion pieces about environmental issues: damming a river building a new shopping center that disrupts habitat increasing production at an agricultural site widening a major road selling animal parts like seahorses Science principles at work in your house, kitchen or yard Science-related legislation Biome studies Stories about geologic processes Stories about water, water resources, water wars in the west, etc. Exploration of new lands What happens to all our old tech stuff? (recycling, hazards, etc.)

Resources and Sample Ideas for Stories Session Handouts and Tutorials for using Photostory 3, Windows Movie Maker, iMovie, and iMovie on iPad on https://dsinscience.wikispaces.com/

Copyright Concerns Students need to be aware that they may be using copyrighted material. Fair Use in Education Portions of (often 10% of length) of songs Portions of movie clips Usually 5 or less images from one artist/photographer Cyberbee: http://www.cyberbee.com/cb_copyright.swf Students can learn to respect others’ original work!

What is a common classroom workflow/timeframe? DAY ONE: Assign topic, do basic research notes, fact synthesis DAY TWO: Write, revise, proofread script, start storyboard DAY THREE: Finish storyboard, begin compiling images on Camera Roll, practice voice narration DAY FOUR: Add images sufficient for length of voiceover, record voiceover, adjust images to fit voiceover DAY FIVE: Final polishing, adjust sound, add background music/sounds, add titles and transitions DAY SIX: Share and critique

Digital Story Processes

Student Samples Student Samples on Vimeo Minerals in Solar Panels Cell Phone Minerals Mystery Scientist Computer Minerals (pitfalls of audio) Surfing and Newton’s Laws Minimata Bay Disaster

Classroom Handouts and Worksheets Digital Storytelling Checklist Sample Storyboard Adopt-River DS research prompt The History of Mars Exploration Mineral to Market Note Page Scoring Rubric

Let’s explore the iMovie workspace and make a quick sample Gather some images and save to Camera Roll Write Script (time for later), storyboard Open iMovie on iPad Choose New Project Import images into iMovie (adjust length for script) Record script Add effects and background sound Export to Camera Roll for sharing

Resources iPad iMovie Tutorial (Youtube) https://dsinscience.wikispaces.com

Thanks for your time and attention. http://www.penceviews.com rogpence@gmail.com https://dsinscience.wikispaces.com/