One of my biggest challenges as a the computer cluster teacher in a NYC K-5 school, is finding meaningful and engaging projects for my students that can be completed within the time constraint of meeting with them one period a week. 

My philosophy of teaching is well represented by this quote from Socrates: “I cannot teach anybody anything; I can only make them think.”  The challenges of our times dictate that students need to be creative thinkers and problem solvers.  I believe that encouraging students to be the authors of their own learning, to work on projects with an authentic purpose for a real-world audience is the best preparation for a successful life in this brave new world that we live in. 

After reviewing my collection of Tech4Learning’s programs, I felt that clay animation, using Frames would lend itself very nicely to a joint art/computer project. When the art teacher and I presented the concept to the class, the students were very enthusiastic, especially when I told them I would publish their finished movies online!

Working in small groups, the students developed a story concept, created storyboards, built background sets, and learned how to construct their clay figures using the Claymation classroom kit in their art class. At the same time, during computer class the students were learning how to use Pixie and Frames to create 2-D animations in preparation for beginning their claymation projects.

The students were so motivated to complete these movies that the team editors spent part of their lunch period working in the computer lab “tweaking” their productions. The students were able to create title cards for their stories, as we had decided to present the movies as if they were silent films, with text instead of audio dialogue. 

This was probably the most exciting project I had done with my students to date, and the kids were completely engrossed in creating the best movies that they could.  They learned how to collaborate with their team members in planning their films and how to share responsibilities, how to settle disagreements peacefully and how to provide constructive criticism to improve their final projects.  Getting students to successfully collaborate has never been easier.

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The success of this project has encouraged me to pursue more animation projects with students this year.  I purchased a lab set of Twist, and my grade four students are now creating animations with a focus on science, math and social studies to be used as teaching tools for their peers and younger students.  They are learning how to integrate the resources of Pixie, Twist and Frames to create original clipart for their movies.