Supporting ELA CCGPS in the Library

I want to show the video, Don't Let the Pigeon Touch the Books next week to let the students know how to take care of the books (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW25mqJjEF4).  Since many won't have read the book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, I wanted to read it this week.  I also want to be able to show that what I do in the library media center supports the CCGPS in ELA.  I looked at the lesson plans for first grade and they have been working on the essential question, "How do we identify the most important information in a story?".  They have been using the 5Ws & H (who, what, when, where, why and how).  So today after reading Mo Willem's book we answered the 5Ws & H as a group.  Then I told them we were going to take an Accelerated Reader quiz on the book together, so I projected in on the large screen and we went through it.  Many first grade students have not yet taken a quiz, so I took this opportunity to model it for them.  And besides, it's a really funny book...to first grade students!

Supporting CCGPS: ELACC1RL3-Describe characters, setting, and major events in a story, using key details. ELACC1SL2-Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or
information presented orally or through other media.

Screencast-O-Matic

I made a screen capture video using Screencast-O-Matic to create an instruction tool for school staff.  We have a new way to submit technology work orders via the school system website and I remembered doing a screen capture video in a graduate class at Valdosta State University.  I thought that a video would be a better way to show staff how to do this task than reading printed instructions (which I also created...4 pages of screen capture with call outs, etc.)

It was fun and very easy to do (and it's free).  The software creates a video in MPEG4 format, which requires QuickTime Player, so I also converted it into WMV format.  I emailed both formats to staff so they would be able to play the video.  I was pretty sure that most of our computers had Windows Media Player installed, but wasn't sure how many had QuickTime installed.

Here is a screen shot of my video screencast.
Note the cursor is hightlighted with a yellow circle, so you can easily track the movement.

I'm thinking of other tasks, procedures or instruction that would lend itself to using this technology.  I could see teachers using it to instruct students on how to things.  They could copy them onto the computers in their classrooms.

 I also figured out how to change a screen capture into a jpeg, since this blog only lets you insert video or images.  You use the Prnt Scrn key and open Accessories>Paint and then paste the screen capture there and save as jpeg.