ETC - Final Project

 

Relevant and Innovative Learning Scenario

Week 3 – Final Project Planning 

1. Target Audience – 6th and 7th grade middle school band students
2. Materials – computer(s), audio editing software, pre/post surveys, Internet connection, journal/practice log, camera, students Edmodo.com accounts, recording/playback equipment.
3. Objectives – The objectives of this scenario are for students to:

A) Synthesize supporting music to a silent film.

B) Organize strategies for producing and recording the music using various instruments and technology.

C) Adapt the music to a 3 – 4 clip of a pre – selected silent film in such a way it adds another dimension to the viewing experience. 

4. Procedure –

1.     Have students create Edmodo account and post their first comment/reply.

2.     Introduce students to practice log.

3.     Have students log practice time / material for two weeks. Logging will begin on 2/21/11 and end on 3/7/11.

4.     Collect practice logs / analyze data

5.     Students will continue familiarizing themselves with Edmodo; using this tool to connect with, not just the teacher, but classmates as well.

6.     Have students complete Creative Project Survey

7.     Once the Creative Project Survey has been completed, students will then vote on the type of project they want to create.

8.     Break Students will be broken into teams.

9.     Students will be shown the clip of the silent film and they will analyze if for: theme, content, set design, filming location, and overall effect.

10.   Students will then begin creating ideas for music to be put with the film.

11.   Students will turn in a projected plan for creating the music. This plan will include:

a.      Overall theme of the music

b.     Changes in theme, if any

c.      Instruments used to create that music

d.      Who will play the various instruments

e.      A timeline for completing composition

12.   Students will then begin composing their music.

13.   After composition is completed, they will begin the recording process

14.   Once all parts have been recorded, then the editing will begin.

15.   Students will then integrate the music into film.

16.   Students will then have a final screening of then film andchoose an audience to premiere it to.

17.   Students will document during entire process.

5. Web 2.0 Tool – Edmodo– a social networking Web 2.0 tool, specifically tailored for use in the public school arena. This application is great for student use because: it can be carefullymonitored, parents can have access, and thereare no non-education related applications associated with Edmodo. Therefore, students can use this tool specifically for school related tasks .
6. Social Participation/Social Learning – Students will be broken up into teams to create a musical sequence that will go with a silent movie. The musical sequence will be completed using the following directions:

a.      Student teams work together to come up with sounds that will help enhance the video.

b.     Students will determine what instruments would best fit the sound that is needed.

c.      The students will work together to compose the parts that will be recorded by each instrument. .

d.      Conclude the sequence by piecing the movie together with the new music.

e.      Students will then share their creative project with different audiences: community, student body, parents, administrators, civic organizations, etc.

7. Making Connections – Students have learned how music is created on their instrument. Such knowledge is crucial to their being able to create various sounds using their instrument and using or selecting those sounds with the film. The new knowledge will come when they are asked to compose the music that they will perform. Students will also need knowledge about affects TV has on movies and TV today. They will be required to observe and evaluate this media, makingnote of how music affects television.Students may have limited knowledge about composition; therefore, they will have to learn what it takes to make various instruments fit together correctly. They will need to answer questions like: “Does my instrument sound better playing higher or lower notes?” “Would it sound better if I playedmy instrument in combination with another instrument other than just myself?” “Does the sound that I am creating at this particular moment compliment what is taking place in the film?” 
8. Create/Produce – The students will work together to create a black and white feature film. The end product will be a short, 3 – 4 minute film clip that before was a silent film. The students will be the ones to create, compose, record, and add any musical elements to the silent film. After their film is complete, students can post it on my blog, share it with the student body, school staff and administration, or provide viewing opportunities for the community.
9. Assessment –I want to be able to create an environment where students feel most comfortable about speaking on camera; therefore the video interviews will be used for assessment. I believe this will provide the most honest and reflective feedback. However, the student body, teachers, staff, and administration will also serves as tools for assessment after their viewing.
10. Reflection – Video interview is one method of reflection that will be used. Students will be asked several questions to answer on video. Also, students will have opportunities to blog about the experience throughout the process. The reflection blog will take place using either video or digital text.