GiE+2009



=** //Machina... What? Gamer Videos Go to School// **= Gamers have been making videos of their digital adventures long before the word “machinima” was coined in 2000. Could it be that using video and 3D virtual worlds in the classroom holds real potential for learning 21st century skills? Learn how The Elisabeth Morrow School is exploring the use of machinima as a tool for building media literacy as well as proficiencies in communication, collaboration, creativity, and problem solving. See examples of how 21st century learning is addressed.
 * Marianne Malmstrom, Technology Instructor, The Elisabeth Morrow School**

//**Building Visual Literacy Skills:**//
If a picture is worth a 1,000 words...

... does a movie convey even more information? media type="custom" key="4206583"

Students love to make movies, But the logistics of producing quality work can be quite demanding. media type="custom" key="4211831"

Students love animaiton... media type="custom" key="4211835"

... But animation is very, very time intensive media type="custom" key="4211847"

What is Machinima?
Sample: media type="custom" key="4211859"

Advantages:
 * More flexibility with scenery and actors
 * Not constrained by physical proximity
 * When students are not in front of a camera, they become more focused on the the production
 * Project management

//**Deconstructing the language of video:**//
Samples of two videos I sometimes show students to illustrate: It's all in the editing... media type="youtube" key="6Chq_92_KXU" height="344" width="425"

...different editing mix, different results. media type="youtube" key="KmkVWuP_sO0" height="344" width="425"

//Students construct political commercials://
Based on the 30 second candidate lesson found on PBS Online...

6th grade students were asked to create political commercials for Greek Gods. They were permitted to order animations from the 8th grade machinima club. media type="custom" key="4212285"

media type="custom" key="4212313"

View entire project here:

//Collaborating Beyond School Walls://
Working with Bernajean Porter, Students at Suffern Middle School explore machinima as a vehicle for digital storytelling. media type="custom" key="4212301"

Would this video be as strong without the images of machinima? Many of the machinima clips were produced remotely and after school hours. media type="youtube" key="kra_z9vMnHo" height="344" width="425"

//**Machinima offers a versatile and easy vehicle for creating multimedia projects.**//
A student created this tutorial in one period. media type="custom" key="4212325"

Students practice working together to create & capture screen shots. media type="custom" key="4212345"

Documenting student learning: This highly sped-up video shows students exploring on their first day in a virtual world. media type="custom" key="4212351"

On her own time, a student produced this review of a the virtual world, Fantage. media type="custom" key="4290069"

View more EMS machinima projects here:

//What's Next?//
Experimenting with green screen mixed reality? media type="custom" key="4290077"

Experimenting with cinematography? media type="custom" key="4286793"

Experimenting with edit remixing? media type="custom" key="4286807"

Additional Resources
Knowclue's Machinima [|Rational & Resources] Global Kids' [|Digital Media Initiative] SLEDcc 2008 Machinima Festival [|Machinima] created by the [|"Harbingers of Light"] Guild (Lucas Gillispie's WoW Club)

=** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **=

=** //"Getting Your Virtual Feet Wet in Second Life & World of Warcraft"// **= = =

=//**Gnome Run 2009**//=

media type="custom" key="4292239" = = Special thanks to the students of the [|Harbingers of Light Guild] for their invaluable assistance! Machinima was captured with [|iShowU] basic & edited using iMovie.

Workshop participants practiced capturing video with [|Jing] basic. Clips were uploaded to [|screencast.com] (Login: KCmachinima@gmail.com - contact me for password)

=Screen Capture Tools=

[|iShowU] (basic - what I use with Students) [|IShowU HD] (pro) [|Stomp] (codec converter)
 * //Knowclue's//** //**pick for MAC**// : iShowU Basic - (easy, affordable & has real time capture)

//**Dual Platform:**// [|Jing] (free, dual platform but 5 min. capture limit & only formats using .swf) [|Jing] (pro)

//**Windows**// [|Fraps] [|Camtasia]

//**iShowU Settings:**//
Basic without sound

Basic with sound (make sure "Microphone Input" is set correctly to show device you are using)



=Additional Resources=

Workshops
NECC 2009 Workshop: Educator's Toolbox Atlantis Rising

Machinima
Elisabeth Morrow School: ToMorrow Island