Best_Practices

= Enhanced Podcasts can be a great tool for a variety of visually-based projects. =


 * As you move through the process, it's important to keep a few things in mind:**

Your librarian is an information resource who can help with many aspects of the project, from the technology, to the web 2.0 tools, to the information kids need about copyright and fair use.
 * //Ask your librarian for help;//**

Teaching:
Have the children as prepared as possible before you sit down to record.
 * 1) Write the script
 * 2) Find pictures and save them to the hard drive or to a flash drive
 * 3) Make sure to stress the importance of staying organized! Most film maker technology pulls the files in from the folder and if the kids do not save properly, their hard work could be for naught.
 * 4) **__Tip__:** Consider setting up a shared school server space account for each grade level or class. Your school STR can set this up for you through DoTS. Then students can save to a shared folder and files can be accessed from any computer in the building.
 * 5) If the kids are using flash drives, expect them to be left behind or forgotten at home at least once.
 * 6) Consider using an online file saving option, like google docs, Media share, or Senduit.
 * 7) Revise the script and assign pictures to chunks of text
 * 8) If using voicethread, remember that you must record the script for each picture
 * 9) If using one of the slideshow options, you need to record the script using audacity or aviary
 * 10) If you are including a second component such as embedding on a wiki, post the directions on that wiki. This way, if the student loses the assignment sheet, it's waiting there online.
 * 11) Make sure the rubric is clear. (post that on the wiki, too)

Grading:
Some important rubric considerations: You can find some customizable rubric options at this website: []
 * Establish a time limit
 * 3-5 minutes is good for most projects
 * If using a slideshow option, consider setting a range for number of slides
 * Must have at least
 * This can be part of the discussion about pacing
 * Appropriateness of pictures and music is a key factor
 * Johnny might love that fast car, but if it has nothing to do with Abe Lincoln, it must go
 * Will.i.am may have a great song about pimps, but if we have to bleep out the words and it's a presentation on the frog life cycle, it must go
 * Pacing is important
 * Don't forget to discuss copyright and fair use.
 * If the material is being used in a manner that is considered transformative, it falls under Fair Use
 * They need to search for images that are free to share:
 * Use the advanced options for a Google search
 * Search at Creative Commons.org
 * Flickrstorm
 * Freeplay music
 * Aviary.com
 * Or just have them cite their sources:
 * []
 * []
 * Students can use an online citation maker as well.
 * Did the students label their presentation correctly?
 * name
 * period #
 * title
 * teacher
 * brief description
 * If pasting the series of links on the wiki, did they follow directions correctly?