Creating Your Own Review Podcast

Creating Your Podcast- –Planning Stage

Now it is time for you to create a review. You may work in pairs or in a triad, though I think 3 people will make the assignment more difficult to complete. The other person/people working with you must have experience with the items that you are doing the review on:
• Review a group of songs from a band/artist;
• Review a genre of music/art/film (such as punk rock, pop rock…)
• A list and review of the top ____ songs/films of 2009;
• A list and review of the songs/films that represent your generation;
• A list and review of ten songs you should listen to before you die,
• A list and review of ten movies everyone should see;
• A review of the history of a band and how it has changed over the years;
• A review of a film maker/actor and how their films have changed throughout their career;
• A review of the best food to have at a party;
• A review of local restuarants.

• And so on – you get the idea. If you have an idea that is not on the list, see me for approval before you begin.

How many songs/ movies/ artists/ performers/ models/ makes do I need in my review?
You need to have three items per person in your group. Pairs will have six items and triads will have 9 items.

Important Things to Consider When Choosing Your Topic:
• Is your topic broad enough that you will have enough items to review?
• Is your topic appropriate for school?
• Can you find enough visuals to go with your audio? (You will need at least one per item.)
• If you select a topic that might have images that are blocked at school, will you be able to find time and internet access outside of school to get the images you will need? (For example, if you want to do a history and review of Metallica you would have to get many of the images outside of school.)
• Do you know enough about your topic to be able to talk about and review/critique it?

What Needs to Be Present in Your Review:

Here’s where your work on the deconstruction of a review graphic comes into play. You did that assignment in order to raise your awareness of how a professional review is constructed. Refer back to the graphic and the outline you made. Use it as a guide, but also feel free to deviate from it.

 A title slide that introduces your topic and includes your name(s);
 At least one image per item;
 Audio, usually music;
 Your spoken commentary –
 Introduce yourself/yourselves;
 Personal story connections;
 Personal Response and/or connection to review item or time period;
 Personal analysis;
 Clear transitions;
 Criteria for selection and/or inclusion;
 Introduction to genre / style / musical movement/classification, etc…
 Elements of style comments
 Background on band / song/film/actor/model, etc.
 History of band / song/ film/actor/model, etc.
 Transitional comments to the next segment
 Excerpt of song/ film still/ image of item, etc…
 Concluding comments
 A works cited page that documents all of your sources for research, images, reference, etc.

And so on - let me know if you need more information.

Creating a Review- Planning & Scripting
To do this assignment you can either:
1. Choose to plan and write out your entire script. The advantage of this option is that you might feel less nervous about recording your voice since you already know what you are going to say. The down side is that it may take you a while.

2. Choose to create a basic plan of what you will say. The advantage of this one is that you do not feel tied to a script. However, it can result in a lower quality podcast since there will most likely be a lot of pauses, “Uhms,” “ya’knows,” and so on. You can fix this by recording in Audacity.com. This is a free audio recording site that you can use to clean up your sound.

How to do this:
 I suggest that you figure out your content then look for images. As you find the right images add them to your VoiceThread. Be sure to put the works cited information on the last slide!

 You can create your show in PowerPoint and upload it, or create it directly in VoiceThread.com

 Practice with your script, and your partner, if you have one.

 Be sure to save your VoiceThread before you add the audio. That way if you screw up the audio you can start from that point, instead of starting over.

 Be sure to put "welshonreview" in the tag line so that I can find it.

 Title it something like yourfirstnamelastinitialreview (all lower case, all one word. Mine would be tammywreview).

 Be sure to check the "Browse" button in the publishing options box.

 Once your happy you can turn it in.

New Biography VoiceThreads - check them out!

Wow, I had not realized that it had been so long since I updated this blog. That happened because we were so busy with our Biography/Autobiography unit. The kids would love to have people check out their final project - VoiceThreads about the person they researched. You can enjoy them by going to Voicethread.com and browsing "welshon".

Our Biography / Autobiography Unit - Part 1 Learning About Someone Else

Developing Greatness: Part 1 Biography & Autobiography
Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches

Essential Questions: How do people change? How do we become who we are?

Assignments:
 Select and read a biography or autobiography;
o Justification for Choice
 Create a PowerPoint presentation with information you have learned;
 Create a VoiceThread about the person you researched

Schedule:
Jan. 18 No School
19 Learn about Biographies and Autobiographies –Begin selecting a book (LMC)(Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches)
20/21 Select your book and begin reading. Set up a Citation Page
(Reminder on how to cite images & books)(LMC)(Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches)
22 Time to read.Due: Write out a justification of why you choose your person. Paragraph minimum.(LMC)
25 Time to Read
26 Create Slides 1-3 & Time to Read Due: Print out of Slides with notes, including updated citation slide.(LMC)
27/28 Time to Read
29 Time to Read
February 1 Create Slides 4-6 & Time to Read Due: Print out of Slides with notes, including updated citation slide. (LMC)
2 Time to Read
3 / 4 Create Slides 7-9 & Time to Read Due: Print out of Slides with notes, including updated citation slide.(LMC)
5 Introduction to VoiceThread (Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches)
8 Finish PowerPoint and Begin VoiceThread. Due: Printout of completed PowerPoint
(LMC)
9-12 Work on your VoiceThread (LMC)

Developing Greatness: Part 1 Biography & Autobiography
Your PowerPoint Presentation
Mrs. Welshon & Ms. Riches

Goal & Rationale:
I would like you to create a PowerPoint presentation about your findings from your reading. I have structured this set of assignments to help focus your efforts while reading and researching your person. I have spread out the due dates to help discourage procrastination.

Slide Content:
 The actual content of what will go on each slide is very minimal.
o You will be talking behind each slide so you won’t need a lot of information on the slide.

 You should have an image or two
o Think about including pictures, maps, etc.

 A few bulleted points that suggest what you are going to talk about.
o No more than 6 bullet points on a slide

 You will need to create handout notes that include a script about what you will say with each slide.
o You will use this when you create your VoiceThread. I expect these notes to be turned in with your slides.

 I also expect you to update your citation page each time you turn in a set of slide handouts


Slide 1- Title Page

Slide 2- Brief Biographical Summary
 Who is this person?
 Why is he/she important/significant?

Slide 3- Social and environmental aspects, demands or exigencies of time period and places in which they found themselves.
 What events of his/her time period shaped them?
 What human qualities were most influential in shaping the way this person lived and influenced his or her times?
 Was he/she impacted significantly by any technology?

Slide 4- What were their dreams/goals/aspirations?
 Which quality or trait was most beneficial?
 Many people act out of a "code" or a set of beliefs which dictate choices. It may be religion or politics or a personal philosophy. To what extent did your person act by a code or act independently of any set of beliefs? Were there times when the code was challenged and impossible to follow?

Slide 5- What difficulties/road blocks did he/she encounter?
 How did he/she deal with them?
 How did they impact him/her?
 Which quality or trait proved most troubling and difficult?
 Did this person make any major mistakes or bad decisions? If so, what were they and how would you have chosen and acted differently if you were in their shoes?

Slide 6- What were the significant changes in his/her life?
How did these changes affect him/her?

Slide 7- How did this person become who he/she is?
 Some people say you can judge the quality of a person's life by the enemies they make. Do you think this is true of your person's life? Explain why or why not.

Slide 8- Who helped/assisted/encouraged your person?
 An older person or mentor is often very important in shaping the lives of gifted people by providing guidance and encouragement. To what extent was this true of your person? Explain.

Slide 9- What is to be learned from this person?
 What are the three or four of the most important lessons you or any other young person might learn from the way this person lived?
 What do you think it means to be a hero? Was your person a "hero?" Why? Why not? How is a hero different from a celebrity?
Slide 10- Citation Page
 Written Text
 Images
 Electronic Information


Many of the subpoints used in this assignment were borrowed from http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/QUEST.HTM

Creating Your Own Review Podcast on Voicethread.com

Creating Your Podcast- –Planning Stage

Now it is time for you to create a review. You may work alone or with one other person. You have a wide range of types of review you can do:
• Review a group of songs from a band/artist;
• Review a genre of music/art/film (such as punk rock, pop rock…)
• A list and review of the top ____ songs/films of 2008;
• A list and review of the songs/films that represent your generation;
• A list and review of ten songs you should listen to before you die,
• A list and review of ten movies everyone should see;
• A review of the history of a band and how it has changed over the years;
• A review of a film maker/actor and how their films have changed throughout their career;
• A review and history of a certain type of automobile;
• A review and critique of the history of a sports team/star.

• And so on – you get the idea. If you have an idea that is not on the list, see me for approval before you begin.

How many songs/ movies/ artists/ performers/ models/ makes do I need in my review?
If you work by yourself you must have at least four items in your review.
If you work with a partner you must have at least eight items in your review.

Important Things to Consider When Choosing Your Topic:
• Is your topic broad enough that you will have enough items to review?
• Is your topic appropriate for school?
• Can you find enough visuals to go with your audio? (You will need at least one per item.)
• If you select a topic that might have images that are blocked at school, will you be able to find time and internet access outside of school to get the images you will need? (For example, if you want to do a history and review of Metallica you would have to get many of the images outside of school.)
• Do you know enough about your topic to be able to talk about and review/critique it?

What Needs to Be Present in Your Review:

Here’s where your work on the deconstruction of a review graphic comes into play. You did that assignment in order to raise your awareness of how a professional review is constructed. Refer back to the graphic and the outline you made. Use it as a guide, but also feel free to deviate from it.

 A title slide that introduces your topic and includes your name(s);
 At least 4 (working alone) or 8 (working in pairs) of images related to your topic;
 Audio, usually music;
 Your spoken commentary –
 Introduce yourself/yourselves;
 Personal story connections;
 Personal Response and/or connection to review item or time period;
 Personal analysis;
 Clear transitions;
 Criteria for selection and/or inclusion;
 Introduction to genre / style / musical movement/classification, etc…
 Elements of style comments
 Background on band / song/film/actor/model, etc.
 History of band / song/ film/actor/model, etc.
 Transitional comments to the next segment
 Excerpt of song/ film still/ image of item, etc…
 Concluding comments
 A works cited page that documents all of your sources for research, images, reference, etc.

Creating a Review- Planning & Scripting
To do this assignment you can either:
1. Choose to plan and write out your entire script. The advantage of this option is that you might feel less nervous about recording your voice since you already know what you are going to say. The down side is that it may take you a while.

2. Choose to create a basic plan of what you will say. The advantage of this one is that you do not feel tied to a script. However, it can result in a lower quality podcast since there will most likely be a lot of pauses, “Uhms,” “ya’knows,” and so on. You can fix this by recording in Audacity.com. This is a free audio recording site that you can use to clean up your sound.

How to do this:
Get several copies of the StoryBoard Planning template (you'll need to get this from me. I could not make it upload correctly here) and begin to fill them in. Feel free to make your own if you prefer to type instead of write, or you need more room than I have included on the form.

1. If you are working alone you should have at least six images. A title slide, four images related to your content and a works cited page. Feel free to have more.

2. If you are working with a partner you should have at least ten images. A title slide, eight images related to your content and a works cited page. More images is always good.

 Go to Voicethread.com and sign up for an account.
 Watch the short video on all of the things you can do on Voicethread.
 Watch a few samples by clicking on the “browse” button and selecting three or more that look interesting to you.
 Now you need to load your images into VoiceThread. Remember, if you need to access images outside of school you can save them directly to your VoiceThread and not have to worry about saving them somewhere else.

 You can create your title and works cited slides in PowerPoint and post them in your VoiceThread.

 Once you have the images loaded take time to practice a bit before actually trying to record.

 I suggest that you figure out your content then look for images. As you find the right images add them to your VoiceThread. Be sure to put the works cited information on the last slide!

 Practice with your script, and your partner, if you have one.

 Be sure to save your VoiceThread before you add the audio. That way if you screw up the audio you can start from that point, instead of starting over.

 Once your happy you can turn it in. I will have you upload it to the class blog. You will need to let me know when you are ready to do this part.