There is a room connected to the library that has had many lives. It has been an over-crowded storage room. Then it turned into an office. From there, it became a classroom. Finally, it ended up empty. Rather than turn it back into a storage room, with no real educational purpose, it was decided that it should have a new life. A production studio was born! The items in this space can be used in the room or checked out for use in the classroom. Here is what this new space includes:
A Green Screen:
Our school has had a green screen for many years, but we have never really had a place to put it. It was difficult to set up and took up a large amount of space. Now, the screen can be set up all the time. Using a curtain rod, it hangs on a large wall. With a bit of sticky Velcro, we are able to pull it tight to prevent shadows. This way the screen can be moved if needed.
Mini Green Screens:
For projects that do not require the large screen, we purchased green tri-fold boards and cut them in half. This way students can work on projects in the classroom and the screen is manageable.
Stand and Microphone:
Our school is 1:1 iPads, so last year a Padcaster was purchased to allow students to create quality videos. The Padcaster included a tri-pod stand, microphone, and high-definition lens. It can be used with the green screen or separately for other types of projects.
Sound Boxes:
This was a Pinterest find! Background noise is always tricky when recording. Using apps like Seesaw, Flipgrid, and ChatterPix have become popular instructional tools. Having a way to help create quality recordings is key. In the true maker spirit, I used old copy boxes, foam, and a bit of spray glue. There are now five sound boxes available for use.
Go Pros:
We also have two Go Pros. These are now available in this space as well to allow for easy access.
Schedule:
Teachers can sign up for the space using a simple paper schedule on a clipboard. This is the same format that our makerspace use, so it is consistent across both spaces. Additionally, this type of schedule will allow for easy data collection at the end of the year.
This type of space fits with our students being creators and not just consumers. It will be exciting to see all the amazing possibilities. I would love to hear your suggestions and ideas!
Author: Kelly Hincks
I am the librarian at Detroit Country Day Lower School in Bloomfield Hills, MI. I have worked as a school librarian for the past eleven years. I was a classroom teacher for four years prior to that. I have worked in charter, public, and private schools. My favorite thing about being a school librarian is the opportunities I have to work both with students and teachers. I love the co-teaching opportunities and connections I have been able to make! I have served on AASL committees as a member and chair. I currently serve as secretary of my state association, Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL).
Categories: Blog Topics, Makerspaces/Learning Commons, Student Engagement/ Teaching Models, Technology
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