2nd Meeting

Today, I met again with Deanine Lilley from 12 noon until 1 p.m. to finalize plans for the Tip project. We went through the variety of digital probes she had reserved and settled on a set of them that will work with the software and the project. They have the older sets of Vernier data probes with adapters and the Lite version of the Logger software. However, with the GoLink cables, several of the older probes will still work with the new software. We will use the temperature, light, voltage, force, and motion with the possible option of some others depending on what she can find out from another teacher about other options. Some of the older probes are no longer supported or did not work with the new setup including the heart monitor, older style force sensors, barometer, and pH probes, so we will forego these for this project. We discussed logistics of the project including the basics of where and when the kids will be working. On Wednesday, I will get 3/4 of the class time to introduce the project and have kids practice with the Flip cameras, then Friday, they will pitch their project ideas and film them. Deanine indicated that we could use several areas near her classroom for the filming as long as we supervise the kids carefully. There is an amphitheater right behind her room that should have enough space for the kids to space themselves out for the filming, as well as areas in hallways and in the classrooms.
She already has kids grouped in twos or threes for their Experimental Design projects and she will combine some groups for this project as needed. I will leave the grouping up to her since she knows the students and can insure that there are no conflicts between kids in the groups. I also discussed some options for downloading the videos and editing them with the Gifted Teacher. He suggested options for saving them so that the kids could get access into their own folders on the server and how they could save them back for editing. On filming day we will be using a classroom set of the flip cameras and have a laptop cart available for use with both the probes and to download their video clips from the flip cameras. Deanine says that all laptops should have the Vernier probe software loaded onto them, so we should be fine there. In addition, we discussed the props that the students may need for their films. I will get a few of these and curtail what is needed based on their exit cards from Wednesday's class. The classroom has quite a few resources available for the kids to use, but I may bring in a few extra items like plastic bags and q-tips, etc. just in case they are needed.
On the next Monday, we will be in a PC computer lab for editing. They will get one class period of 90 minutes for editing, which should be enough as long as each group uses their time productively. Then on Tuesday, we will show all videos to the class on Deanine's projector in her room, discuss, evaluate and finish up the project. Deanine has another assignment that the kids can work on for Monday/Tuesday if they finish early, so I will not plan an anchor activity for them at this time.
I should have the remainder of the handouts ready to print out by Tuesday, so that all will be ready for the class. The kids will receive the CSI practice assignment, the first copy of the Student Video rubric, and then later a copy of the Digital Probe data collecting video assignment along with some blank storyboard sheets from the AFI curriculum. In addition, I may use a handout on editing and using digital probes for Friday depending on how much more help the students may need with some of their filming.
Overall, the planning seems to be going well and we are all excited about what the students should learn from this experience.