April 2006

TechnoKids Releases TechnoBiography

Are you looking for an interesting way to have students prepare a report about a significant person? Why not have them make a web-ography? A web-ography is a biography in the form of a website.

In the TechnoBiography project students learn how to organize information into an interesting online biography. The project begins with activities that help students gain an understanding of plagiarism. Afterwards, they use the Internet, or other resources, to research a topic. Information is organized under headings such as childhood, education, career, accomplishments, death, and interesting facts.

Next, students design the appearance of their website. Using Microsoft Publisher, they select a publication design, color scheme, background, font scheme, and navigation bar. Their choices should reflect the topic they are writing about.

Once the website appearance is established, students use their research to create a web-ography. The completed site will contain a Home, Biography, Timeline, and Sources page.  For each page, students learn a new desktop publishing skill such as how to arrange text and images, draw and format AutoShapes, and create a table.

Upon completion, the web-ography is uploaded to the World Wide Web. Students then share their work with classmates, friends, and family members.

TechnoBiography is recommended for students in grades 6-8.

November 2005

TechnoKids Releases TechnoDrama

Give story writing a "new spin" using the TechnoKids project TechnoDrama. Have your students become digital storytellers. Instead of writing a story using paper and pencil, have them tell it using video, sound, and animation. This modern day form of story telling is a great way for your students to express their creativity. What is so exciting about this project is that no high-tech devices are required. If your school has a video camera, web cam, digital camera, or even nothing at all, you can complete the activities.

The main difference between digital story telling and traditional writing is that the events are not told with words, but digital images. In TechnoDrama, your students will follow all the stages of the writing process. They will plan their story, organize their ideas into a storyboard, write a script for the shots, edit the content of the video, and share their work with an audience. The goal throughout the activities is to produce a story that children will enjoy today using video equipment and Windows Movie Maker (which is part of Windows XP).

The story students tell in the TechnoDrama project will be a re-make of a classic nursery rhyme. These childhood favorites can be transformed by modernizing the tale, re-writing the ending, explaining the events in more detail, showing how the characters feel about the events, or changing the storyline to make it more entertaining.

You may wonder "Why Nursery Rhymes?" Nursery rhymes are a great way to introduce digital storytelling to your students. This is because they are familiar and have a structure that easily can be divided into “shots”. Often when students are first introduced to video production they have BIG IDEAS. Sometimes these ideas are difficult to produce due to limits in time and resources. In addition, there is a lot of learning that needs to take place to understand how to handle the equipment, film action sequences, and edit video footage. You do not want to start something that can quickly become too difficult to manage. Modernizing nursery rhymes is a fun and easy way to introduce digital storytelling to your students.

The TechnoDrama project begins with activities that help your students gain an understanding of digital storytelling. To start, they view modern-day nursery rhymes including a “new spin” on Humpty Dumpty and Little Boy Blue. After watching each video, they analyze the content of the story and the production techniques used.

Once students are familiar with the look of a digital story, they prepare for the creation of their own nursery rhyme by learning how to use the video editing software Windows Movie Maker. Students import the raw footage used to make the Little Boy Blue sample, and edit the content by deleting unwanted frames, adding video effects, applying transitions, and inserting text overlays. The goal of this activity is to discover the capabilities of the program.

Next, students operate a video capture device. They experiment with the program features in Windows Movie Maker to learn how to alter the microphone settings, color brightness, frames per second, and camera position. Once familiar with how to adjust the camera settings they practice recording quality video.

With students now confident with the technology, they are ready to team up to produce their own digital story. As a group, students select a nursery rhyme, and determine how they would like to give the poem a “new-spin”. To do this they need to think critically about the content of the rhyme. For example, should Wee Willie Winkie be running through the town in his pajamas, does Peter Pumpkin Eater's wife like living in a pumpkin, and what does Mary's teacher say when she brings her lamb to school? Using a storyboard, they divide their idea into shots, outlining for each one the action, characters, background, words, camera settings, and props. Once they have all their ideas organized, students assemble the sets, enact the story events, and film the production.

Following filming, each member of the production team takes their video footage and individually edits the content. By applying their knowledge of Windows Movie Maker, students produce a nursery rhyme that children will enjoy today. When their digital stories are finished, these modern day poems are shown to viewers. They are sure to become new childhood favorites!

TechnoDrama is recommended for students in grades 3-5.

August 2005

TechnoKids Releases TechnoCommercial

With people today viewing close to one million commercials in a lifetime, it is essential that students are aware of the powerful influence the media has on how they think and act. TechnoKids is pleased to announce the release of TechnoCommercial, a new intermediate project. In this project, students become media savvy by analyzing the manipulation techniques used by advertisers and then using them to make their own commercial using video equipment and Windows Movie Maker (which is part of Windows XP).

The emphasis in this project is placed on media awareness, with tasks that promote critical viewing of advertisements. What is so exciting about this project is that no high-tech devices are required. If your school has a video camera, web cam, digital camera, or even nothing at all, you can complete the activities.

The project begins with analytic activities that encourage students to consider the amount of time they spend consuming various forms of media and its impact on their lives. Afterwards, they analyze television advertisements to learn how to identify the purpose, target audience, selling techniques, obvious and hidden messages, and stereotypes. These activities are sure to help your students become critical viewers.

Once students are familiar with these key concepts, they prepare for the creation of their own ad, by learning how to use the video editing software Windows Movie Maker. Students import raw footage of a commercial and edit the content by deleting clips, applying video effects, adding transitions, inserting text overlays, and importing music. The goal is to discover the capabilities of the program.

Next students learn how to operate camera equipment. To start, they study a commercial to notice the types of shots, angles, and camera movement. Once familiar with how a camera can be used to share information with an audience, they experiment with the program features in Windows Movie Maker. By altering the microphone settings, color brightness, frames per second, and camera position, they gain an understanding of how to record quality video.

Now students are ready to team up to produce their own commercial using all the persuasive and production techniques of the professionals. As a group, students must determine the target audience, selling technique, and messages they would like to convey to the viewer, to convince them to purchase a chosen product. Using a storyboard, they divide the commercial into shots, outlining for each one the action, characters, words, props, and camera position. Once they have all their ideas organized, students film the production.

Each member of the production team then takes their video footage and individually edits the content. By applying their knowledge of Windows Movie Maker, students produce a television advertisement that gets the "right message" to the "right person". When they are finished, their commercial is shown to viewers.

TechnoCommercial is recommended for students in grades 6-8.

July 2005

TechnoKids Releases TechnoImages

TechnoKids is pleased to announce the release of TechnoImages a new junior project. In this project, students take a journey of self-exploration. They express their mood, style, and attributes as art. Prior to each activity, students study paintings created by a variety of artists as a source of inspiration. Once their imagination has been sparked they use the tools in PhotoFiltre to create artwork that reveals "who they are".

After each piece is created, students arrange the artwork in a digital gallery. Below each picture they offer commentary about their design decisions, production techniques, and meaning. Once all the artwork is completed, the gallery is transformed into "Net Art", which allows the digital art to be seen on the Internet.

The emphasis in this project is placed on the elements of design and how they influence the appearance, feeling, and meaning of a picture. Students learn how to use digital tools to adjust the line, texture, spacing, form, color, and shape. By "playing" with these elements they are able to dramatically alter their images. Throughout the activities, students reflect on the use of the elements of design within their artwork.

The curriculum development is thrilled with the creation of this project. Our team members have been in search of photo-editing software appropriate for children for years. We have been lucky to find an excellent program called PhotoFiltre. This software is FREE for educators. The creator of the software has been kind enough to grant TechnoKids Inc. the right to distribute the program and develop instructional materials for the software. What is exciting about PhotoFiltre is that it comes in multiple languages including French, English, and Spanish. To download the program visit www.photofiltre.com You will be impressed with the quality of the software!

TechnoImages is recommended for students in grades 3-5.

April 2005

TechnoKids Releases TechnoTribute

TechnoKids is pleased to announce the release of TechnoTribute a new camp project. In this project, campers create a “TechnoTribute” to celebrate the life of someone special. This tribute includes biographical data, character traits, accomplishments, and goals of the honoree. The information is arranged in an animated presentation that acknowledges the contributions of this exceptional person.

The inspiration for this project came from teachers at our research and development center John Knox Christian School (JKCS). Each year the grade seven students make a tribute to the grade eight students, that is shown to parents at the graduation ceremony. The tribute includes information and pictures about each student in the graduating class combined into a multimedia presentation. The creation of the presentation was a daunting task for the grade seven teachers and students, with much stress each year. Many late nights were inevitably spent by teachers on staff, polishing the presentation to make it ready for the audience.  To help the staff and students at JKCS, TechnoKids Inc. created a project that could easily be followed and would make it possible to prepare a TechnoTribute with less anxiety.

This project not only fits the needs of the staff and students at JKCS, but other educators who are in need of preparing a tribute to an honoree. This person may be a retiring principal, staff member who is leaving, parent volunteer, or graduating class.

We also think this project will be lots of fun for campers. The tribute can be about a fellow person at the computer camp, family member, or a celebrity. Encourage your campers to celebrate the contributions of the honoree in a "Computer Camp Graduation Ceremony", "Tribute to our Parents Night", or "Celebration of the Most Influential People".

Who do you know that is "tribute worthy?"

April 2005

TechnoKids Releases TechnoNovel

Are you looking for a new way to have students do a book report? TechnoKids has just released TechnoNovel. In this project, students create a marketing tool for a novel called a "book trailer". Similar in style to a movie trailer or teaser, an animated preview of the book is created to entice people to read. This preview includes an introduction to the characters, setting, and plot. Using Microsoft PowerPoint, text, graphics, animation, transitions, and sound effects, are combined to produce a dazzling visual display of the novel.

Aside from the instructions about how to create a book trailer, this project also offers excellent novel study ideas. For example, there are activities for creating a postcard from a main character, interactive-quiz about the plot, story mobile, collage of events, and wanted poster. All of these activities are done using Microsoft PowerPoint.

TechnoNovel is recommended for students in grades 6-8. It is important to note that this project is not an introductory project for Microsoft PowerPoint. If your students are new to PowerPoint you may wish to consider a beginner project such as TechnoHero.

March 2005

TechnoKids Releases TechnoPhotos

TechnoKids is pleased to announce the release of the new camp project TechnoPhotos. TechnoPhotos is a fun project for children 7-12. In true TechnoKids fashion, the instructional materials merge "education" with "fun". Campers learn about the pop art style and the work of famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, and Jasper Johns. Using their artwork as a source of inspiration campers digitally edit photos to produce portraitures, silk-screens, billboards, and paintings that are a tribute to the pop art style. This project is a "must teach" for educators with a passion for art, love of digital cameras, or desire to teach photo editing in a fun way.

The curriculum development is thrilled with the creation of this project. Our team members have been in search of photo-editing software appropriate for children for years. We have been lucky to find an excellent program called PhotoFiltre. This software is FREE for educators. The creator of the software has been kind enough to grant TechnoKids Inc. the right to distribute the program and develop instructional materials for the software. What is exciting about PhotoFiltre is that it comes in multiple languages including French, English, and Spanish. To download the program visit www.photofiltre.com You will be impressed with the quality of the software!

March 2005

TechnoKids Releases TechnoMummy

TechnoKids releases a new project called TechnoMummy. In this project, students become Egyptologists. They begin with a virtual trip to Egypt to view a newly discovered tomb containing an unknown mummy and many interesting treasures! Students learn about databases as they browse and search through a file of all the beautiful ancient artifacts. Then they use the clues to try to establish the identity of the mummy. As students write diary entries of their adventure and learn how to draw their own artistic creations, they discover many interesting facts about Ancient Egypt, its natural environment, culture, and especially the belief in the afterlife.

This project is recommended for children in Grade 5.

January 2005

TechnoKids Releases TechnoLink

TechnoKids releases a new project called TechnoLink. In this project, students become web designers. They construct a web page that includes links to fun places for kids on the World Wide Web. Throughout the design process they pay particular attention to the ease of navigation, overall appearance, and quality of the content. This will ensure that their web page will get the kid stamp of approval.

This project is recommended for children in Grade 5.

November 2004

TechnoKids Releases TechnoHero

TechnoKids releases a new project called TechnoHero. In this project, students present information about their personal hero. This person is someone who has made a significant contribution, which has positively impacted others. Using the Internet they gather facts to create a profile of their hero. This information is then arranged on slides to produce a multimedia presentation

This project is recommended for children in Grade 3.