DEECD Innovation Showcase

Transcription

1 DEECD Innovation Showcase Flip out at Ouyen Ouyen Pre-School Louise Fitzpatrick-Leach and Elaine Bell

2 Integrating Teaching, Learning and Assessment with the Flip Camera.

3 About Ouyen Preschool a single unit kindergarten serving families within a radius of 40 plus kilometres with an enrolment of 23 children in kms from Mildura and 450 kms from Melbourne with little regular exposure to IT ideas and expertise though the wonderful Vicnet team is always just a phone call away

4 About Us This is our tenth year of teaching together at Ouyen We are non-digital natives who are learning as we go We choose technology that supports our play-based approach to teaching and learning

5 About the Flip A pocket video camera Plugs in to a USB port for downloading Easy to use point, press and shoot The software comes loaded onto the camera Relatively cheap under $300 Rechargeable on the computer

6 How we started We needed to update our old video camera, used for making the end of year film for the families nobody wanted videos any more. Louise heard about the Flip and checked it out with Anne Mirtschin via the Innovators Ning We took the plunge early 2010

7 What happened next We quickly realised that it offered much more than a replacement for the old video camera. Digital = instant access: we could look at the video footage immediately after an event teachers, children and parents. Instead of viewing digital photos that we take and transcribing Instead of viewing digital photos that we take, and transcribing observations made at the time, we could revisit the experience itself.

8 Any down sides? As with any other observation method, it takes time away from fully interacting with the children, so we use it judiciously Converting the MP4 file to a different format that can be viewed on a DVD player has been another learning experience

9 And the pluses? because it s digital We can take still photos for other documentation Editing is easy We can film clips to parents or others (with appropriate permission) We can store film clips on a thumbdrive, and transfer easily between computers We can make movies (the original reason for getting the Flip)

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11 Using the Flip for Teaching The camera tells the truth th which h can sometimes be uncomfortable! We have found out things about our practice that we could improve or change We can study a group of children and their responses, nonverbal as well as verbal capturing details on the Flip that might escape us or an observer within the hurlyburly y of the kinder session It has a better memory than anyone at kinder.

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13 Using the Flip for Learning Children can revisit their play ideas and experiences Experiences around special visitors or excursions can be relived, discussed, enjoyed in retrospect Revisiting aids reflection, discussion and further learning Children who may be reluctant to speak in front of the group may be more comfortable commenting on what they see on the film Children can be the camera person the I in digital, with the power to decide what to record.

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16 Using the Flip for Assessment A simple tool for deep assessment It extends the scope of what we are observing we learn so much more than when we sit taking notes or trying to get the right digital photo It records all language, all interactions, not just what we think is important It records the children on the edges, perhaps outside our focus where some very interesting things can be happening It can be viewed with parents to share and develop a joint understanding of their child s learning

17 What can be done with the Flip? You can look at: Extended play episodes Interactions between individual children Tracking a child around the playground or inside (digital timesampling) Focussed learning situations, eg oral language, physical challenges or achievements, pretend reading and writing activities

18 How do we use the Flip? We are deliberate in our use of the Flip We need to support each other, so that the other adult handles the housekeeping as much as possible while filming is happening We try and view the film on the same day, after the session We find that viewing and revisiting a play episode supports more effective reflection and joint construction of our understanding

19 Other ways to use the Flip Some services use video clips to inform and reassure parents about how their child is going Viewing video of a child could help other professionals working in collaboration with teachers and parents Viewing video clips has become an accepted way to support teachers in professional learning eg George Forman s Videatives initiative on the internet.

20 A contemporary tool for observation and assessment It supports the engagement of children and families in the teaching and learning process. The Flip supports respectful, authentic observations of children s learning and development. It enables us to be objective, collaborative, reflective and selfcritical in our practice.

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22 The Flip is a rich, interactive ti resource that can be used in many ways to support the children, parents and teachers involved in early learning. Ouyen Preschool edublogs org