TEACHING BLOG
GREEN SCREEN MAGIC!
For some colleagues, technology and using tech in lessons comes naturally; they seem to whizz through the latest apps and devices and find themselves at ease with it all. For others it can be a bit overwhelming and challenging to keep up. This is where the Learning Lunch programme is particularly beneficial and useful. Novices like me can learn simple tricks and tools to support the learning process.
John Sullivan is one of those colleagues who just loves exploring the many facets of learning and teaching, he has presented on numerous occasions to our staff on how to create digital magic and this was no exception. Today’s Learning Lunch focused on how to use the Green Screen by Do Ink app in lessons to progress learning. It can be easy to be tricked by the magic of apps and the special effects of something new but John kept it focused on learning outcomes; how using the app and the tools within it can help pupils explain concepts and can help keep students engaged in their learning.
And the staff were certainly engaged in the process; John walked us through the steps in creating the videos and using the equipment he had provided so that we could all have a go at creating a movie. The potential to create is unlimited; anything green can become a screen through the app and once you have recorded your sections it’s a simple process to put them together. The success rate and progress amongst staff was excellent and everyone left feeling confident they could transfer this into the classroom to spark imagination, fuel a debate and generally engage learners with new skills to strengthen their learning. Through John’s careful demonstrations and modelling of the process (along with a support video shared afterwards) all staff had a go at creating and learning - exactly what it says on the tin.
As we said, anything can be a green screen.
And the staff were certainly engaged in the process; John walked us through the steps in creating the videos and using the equipment he had provided so that we could all have a go at creating a movie. The potential to create is unlimited; anything green can become a screen through the app and once you have recorded your sections it’s a simple process to put them together. The success rate and progress amongst staff was excellent and everyone left feeling confident they could transfer this into the classroom to spark imagination, fuel a debate and generally engage learners with new skills to strengthen their learning. Through John’s careful demonstrations and modelling of the process (along with a support video shared afterwards) all staff had a go at creating and learning - exactly what it says on the tin.
About the author: Rebecca Pitts is a teacher of Psychology and History at Shrewsbury International School (Riverside) in Bangkok. When not teaching she loves to travel and explore this amazing part of the world. Her and Julie Rawley are the lead teachers who oversee the annual Learning Lunch CPD programme.
