The Jump Cut

The Digital Leaders have been jump cutting like crazy for the past few weeks with some excellent results.

For those who don't know, a 'jump cut' is when you film something, then pause the recording to remove, add or change something in the scene (leaving everything else in exactly the same position), then continue recording.

It allows you to create an effect similar to a magic trick IF you can hold the camera steady enough and direct your actors to stay firmly in position.

We had a great time trying jump cuts out and the students would like for you to see some of their efforts.  Enjoy!

Learning to Craft Scenes With Continuity

For the last few months, the Digital Leaders have been learning film techniques when making short scenes using iPads as cameras.

At first, we learned how to film different types of shots (close-up, medium, wide, over the shoulder, point of view, etc.) and practised them. Next, we learned how to upload our footage independently and how to edit it into a short scene.

Then a challenge was set: could we create a short scene, showing continuity, to make the audience feel suspense?  We worked out a simple storyboard to follow:

Next, we broke into small groups, filmed our footage and edited it together to make a scene.  Here are some of our results:

Next, we will be learning about jump cuts and using them to make scenes that feature a magic trick!

Sphero - The Main Challenge

After a few weeks of testing and debugging, we set a greater challenge for the Digital Leaders: Could they navigate the Sphero through an ever-narrowing maze?  Take a look:

The children were really engaged with the Sphero Minis and started to explore the other code blocks available to them quite naturally and without much encouragement.  A great tool for learning how to sequence code, test and debug.

Next, we hope to try out our BBC Microbits to see what we can do with them!

Sphero - With Greater Accuracy

After our initial steps at coding the Sphero, we moved onto challenges that required a bit more accuracy.  This led to lots (and lots) of testing, debugging, retesting, debugging... you get the picture.

Physical Computing with a Sphero

The Digital Leaders have moved onto testing the school's new Physical Computing technology.  We had a good go at using the Makey Makeys last year, so this year we are focusing on the Sphero and the BBC Microbit (more on that in a few weeks).

The children started learning how to control the Sphero by connecting to it using an iPad and Bluetooth. At first, we controlled it directly using a control pad.  Soon after that, we moved on to using code blocks to program our controls.

Here is a taste of the initial results:

Making Movies

For the last two months we have been learning to make short films using an iPad to film them.

First, we made simple knock knock jokes. This helped us to recap on filming and editing short scenes. We got into a small groups and picked out three different jokes. I enjoyed making these jokes because I learnt different filming skills.

Then we moved on to making more advanced short films. We came up with a simple plot for a short movie. We tried to make films with continuity (with no gaps in the action). After filming them, we started editing and then we added credits.

Over the course of these past two months, I have learnt how to film and edit short films. I have enjoyed making these movies and I would like to make more later on the year.

The Colossus was built in 1943

The Colossus:

The Colossus was created by Dr. Thomas (Tommy). The tape held the coded German text in whole patterns punched on a tap.

The colossus was a computer used to read the messages of the Germans during WW2. 

Collossus 1 Introduction