Assignment 5: Creating video

Lesson topic:
Going Places

Lesson time:
60 minutes - In order to stay within the time allotted, this will be a part of a multi-day lesson. While trying to teach myself how to use the app I was able to make my materials and make my video in just under an hour so with my instructions and being able to split up the work, it should be possible.

Target:
The target is a conversation class made up of Korean University Freshman. The class is taught at the high-beginner level though there is quite a bit of variety within the class.

Materials

               

• iPhone App:
  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stop-motion-cafe/id492389084?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 (Write name of app, Stop Motion Cafe, on board.)
• Sample video:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuKt3K6QGRg
• Student stories (completed in previous class)
• Storyboard sketch containing plan for video (completed in previous class)
• Paper
• Pens/pencils/markers/etc. (students were told to bring these)

Procedures

Introduction (3-5 minutes)

1. Get in your groups from the last class. (3-4 students per group; groups assigned so that at least one person has an iPhone or iPad)
2. Watch the sample video I created. (see materials)
3. You are going to create a video just like this (or hopefully better).

Preparing to make the video (10 minutes)

1. You need to use the paper I give you to:
1. draw characters and cut them out
2. draw backgrounds for each scene
3. write dialogue cards
4. download the app
2. Assign tasks above to each group member.
3. Create materials.

Prepare tech requirements (3-5 minutes)

1. Clear your table.
2. Stack some books or a chair to act as a tripod. (demonstrate)
3. Follow my example (using app on projector) to make a short video of a pencil moving. (demonstrate using the app)
1. Open the app.
2. Click on Capture Frames.
3. Place the phone on the books so that the paper is facing the right way and in the shot.
4. Click the box in the center of the screen to take a frame.
5. Make sure to only move the objects a little each time.
6. When doing text, take about 20-30 frames for each line of text to make sure that there is enough time to read it.
7. When finished, press Done.
8. Press the button labeled Elaborate Movie.
9. The video should now be in your photos.
10. Upload the video to the class Dropbox folder.
    (Students know how to do this already.)

Make videos (30 minutes)

1. Make your videos.
2. Ask me if you need help or have any questions.
3. The app has some more advanced editing features but only play around with those if you finish making your video early.

Review (10 minutes)

1. Watch videos from Dropbox on projector as a class.

Lesson review/analysis

How will you use this resource to meet the needs of your instructional purposes?

The content of this lesson, worked on before this particular class, can involve anything being studied in class. I chose directions for this example because it is something I will cover but it doesn't have to be. This lesson could be very flexible in this way.

Why is this medium appropriate for the lesson you plan to create (e.g., relevance to the target language, interest level, and motivation)?

Honestly, I thought that this seemed a bit childish for my students but upon thinking about it further, I decided it wasn't. Korean adults read comic books and watch animated videos so the medium is quite familiar, even to university students. Also, I could encourage them to write their stories about something that they find relevant to their lives. For example, rather than going on a picnic as in my (rather lame) example, they could go to a bar or to a nightclub or whatever it is that they do on the weekends with their friends.

What are the potential problems, either language based or technical, that you may need to troubleshoot or prepare for?

Students might have a hard time with the app though I got the simplest one I could find that works so hopefully it'll be ok. There may also be issues with the filming. I had a bit of trouble at first orienting everything and making the camera steady. Hopefully I'll avoid both of those issues by demonstrating everything for the students. I have an adapter to hook my phone up to the projector so I will use this while demonstrating.

One other issue that comes up is the story. In our readings for the week there was a quote about how we are trying to tell stories rather than bad movies. I'm afraid that mine falls in the later category but I think my students will be able to do better, especially since they'll be given more time to write their stories in an earlier class.

What technical problems did you encounter while preparing the A/V?

Like last time, there were a number of issues that came up:

• I initially wanted to use a different, simpler app that was available on the iTunes store as well as the Android store. It was very easy to use--there was only one button to take shots and one button to save the video--but it kept crashing when I used it so I went with something else instead.
• I noticed when I was done that my video was oriented the wrong way. I had missed the this way up instructions in the app. I fixed this on Youtube but will make sure to tell my students about it beforehand so they don't run into the same problem.