Here's an example of a script portion, so you can see how specific the directions must be. Remember that the best way to tell if your script is thorough enough is this test: I should be able to hand your script to any random person off the street, and with practice, they should be able to produce your episode EXACTLY as you would want it to sound!

Farmer: "I reckon I save a good ten, twelve hours a week in the field with that new thresher!"

Inventor: (enthusiastically) "Well that's the idea, sir: less work and time, more productivity!"

The sound of a door opening. Footsteps approach.

Woman: "Here you are! I've been looking for you everywhere! That new cotton gin isn't working at all!"

All classes have completed (or nearly completed in a few cases) their Treatments. The Treatment serves as the cornerstone document for drafting the script. Remember as you develop your script that every word you record, every sound effect you play, and every clip of music you include must be specified in your script. Scripts are due at the end of class on Tuesday or Wednesday depending on your class.

Here's an example of a script portion, so you can see how specific the directions must be. Remember that the best way to tell if your script is thorough enough is this test: I should be able to hand your script to any random person off the street, and with practice, they should be able to produce your episode EXACTLY as you would want it to sound!

Farmer: "I reckon I save a good ten, twelve hours a week in the field with that new thresher!"

Inventor: (enthusiastically) "Well that's the idea, sir: less work and time, more productivity!"

The sound of a door opening. Footsteps approach.

Woman: "Here you are! I've been looking for you everywhere! That new cotton gin isn't working at all!"

December 3, 2009

It's with great pleasure that once again Mr. Reeves and Mr. Ferrera team up to bring you Changing America: The Podcast Series. Stay tuned!

Thank you to one and all for the continuing kind words based on our recent highlight in the Bull Run Observer. Congratulations once again to the students who experienced such success during this project. We look forward to presenting "Changing America" at the PWCS Technology Conference in May 2009 at the Kelly Leadership Center!

- Mr. Reeves & Mr. Ferrera

January 12, 2009

Today in class, several podcasting groups will be reviewing podcasts from other groups using the CA Reflective Assessment form on the right. Be sure to follow instructions in class so that yours is saved to your desktop properly before you proceed.

January 6, 2008

After a restful and enjoyable break, and with all of the podcasts completed and posted, it's time to reflect on our experiences as producers and to become consumers of information!

In the coming days we'll be taking an opportunity to examine classmates' podcasts. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to check them out, feel free to do so in the folder to the right. Stay warm, and stay tuned!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Thirty episodes.
Five periods.
Three weeks.
One series.

We hope that producing "Changing America" has been a rewarding and insightful experience for you all. From the feedback we're getting, it seems that the overwhelming majority of students not only enjoyed the project, but learned a great deal about the United States and how it transformed during this tumultuous period of history. Congratulations to everyone who has completed the project!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Today is Day Eleven of production and the first completed episodes of Changing America are coming in to the producers. Congratulations to those groups that have successfully completed this podcasting experience. Starting today completed episodes are being posted on this page in the All Completed Podcasts folder to the right. Stay tuned!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Today is Day Nine of production and recording has begun. Groups are completing the recording of all spoken dialogue using Audacity (available for free download on this page). During the next and final podcasting class, production teams will need their sound effects and recorded music files.

It is critical that you bring those files to class on Thursday or Friday! If you fail to do so, your group will be unprepared and unable to fully complete the project.

Many teachers and students outside of class are looking forward to the Changing America podcast series. Stay on task in the next several days, Bobcats, because we're in the home stretch and there's no additional time to achieve your full potential... Winter Break is only days away!

Monday, December 15, 2008

It is Day Eight of production, and a new folder, "Graded Materials," has been added. Please take some time today to examine your treatments. Several groups have shown truly outstanding progress thus far and are well on track to making some of the best episodes in our series.

Several other groups will notice lacking scores in some areas, and should take the time to prepare for class by identifying ways to improve upon their treatments during the final parts of the scripting process.

Remember, recording starts TOMORROW, Tuesday, December 16. Your episode must be completed by the end of class on Thursday, December 18 or Friday, December 19, depending on when your class meets.

This is your chance to show what you've got, Bobcats!

Friday, December 12, 2008

It is Day Seven of production, and all classes have completed (or nearly completed in a few cases) their Treatments. The Treatment serves as the cornerstone document for drafting the script. Remember as you develop your script that every word you record, every sound effect you play, and every clip of music you include must be specified in your script. Scripts are due at the end of class on Friday or Monday depending on your class.

Here's an example of a script portion, so you can see how specific the directions must be. Remember that the best way to tell if your script is thorough enough is this test: I should be able to hand your script to any random person off the street, and with practice, they should be able to produce your episode EXACTLY as you would want it to sound!

Farmer: "I reckon I save a good ten, twelve hours a week in the field with that new thresher!"

Inventor: (enthusiastically) "Well that's the idea, sir: less work and time, more productivity!"

The sound of a door opening. Footsteps approach.

Woman: "Here you are! I've been looking for you everywhere! That new cotton gin isn't working at all!"

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

It is now Day Five of production, and the first round of Treatments are coming due. If you haven't yet completed your research or decided what your episode will be, you should be discussing that prior to coming to class. By the end of class today and tomorrow, your Treatments are due. Be sure to read over the CA Treatment Rubric in Class Files to be sure you know what is expected of you! There is some phenomenal work going on here, Bobcats!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Today is Day Three of production. Today and tomorrow in class, groups will seriously invest time in research on their focus areas and brainstorming on what groups' podcast episodes will sound like.

Remember to use the document "CA Focus Areas" in the "Class Files" section as your #1 document to guide WHAT you are researching and focusing upon. It tells you everything you need to know to focus in on your area!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Today is Day Two of production. Periods 1, 3, and 4 have been assigned their topics, and those groups should spend at least some time this weekend beginning to examine the big issues that faced America between 1861 and 1921. Remember to look at the time periods through the point of view of your group's topic!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Today is Day One of production for "Changing America: The Podcast Series!" We hope that you are as excited about the project as we are, and are looking forward to working together for the next two weeks. Several project documents have already been added, with many more to come, as we provide you with the scaffolding within which you will create your group's 100-second episode.

This is the final evaluation that you will use to reflect back on the project.

The rubric that will be used to assess our final podcast episodes.

This guide will help you focus on the things you need to cover in your project. Read the section for your group very carefully before AND during your work!

The schedule for our podcasting project.

This file will be used in class in January to review and evaluate podcasts from other groups. Be sure to save the file with a unique file name as instructed in class.

This is the rubric that will be used to evaluate your finished Script. Your group will create a single Script document in class on Friday and Monday, to be handed in electronically at the end of class. This is the script you will use to record your episode!

This is the rubric that will be used to evaluate your finished Treatment. Your group will create a single Treatment document in class on Wednesday and Thursday, to be handed in electronically at the end of class.

The introduction video used in class on December 4 and 5, posted in a compressed Windows Media Video format for you to watch at home or share with your family!

This is the "LAME" file that Audacity needs to Export as MP3. Save it to your desktop, and when Audacity asks you to locate it, point to this file.