Week 6: Final Post

 Genius Hour Post #6 

My Genius Hour blog post sums up my six-week journey and experiences using a drone as an educational tool. At the beginning of this project, I really did not think I would be able to accomplish as much as I did in the short timeframe that I had available to work on it each week. In fact, one hour a week did not seem like enough time to properly learn the techniques to operate a drone and then edit a quality video. However, I realize that the power of motivation can have on your engagement and commitment when working on a topic or new learning you are passionate about and that you want to succeed in. I looked forward to these working sessions and will continue developing my drone skills further even after this Genius Hour blog is over.  As a future teacher, I can relate to offering students inquiry based learning to inspire new learning as my own experience in this type of learning has made a positive impact on my skills as now I can incorporate this learning to my work both at school and home projects.

I am happy with the result of the educational video about Green Venture and the way it highlights an eco-friendly organization in Hamilton. This video is posted to my YouTube channel and perhaps it could even be used as a promotional video for Green Venture to inspire interest in joining the environmentally conscious movement. I realize the benefits of using a YouTube channel to educate students about any topic in the classroom, but like all technology the educator needs to be careful of any inappropriate material or privacy issues. Controlling my own YouTube channel gives me the flexibility to extend learning opportunities outside of the classroom, as I can call up a project or place on video quickly and easily. Even so there are definite responsibilities when posting media on YouTube to ensure that the education content is both appropriate and consists of quality and lasting information.  I also found while researching my topic that drones could be very useful in STEM work inside of the classroom. This area would be great to investigate further to explain physics and mathematic concepts in intermediate and high school placements. I learned quickly that just keeping the drone in the air without contacting objects applies many STEM skills. Taking good video content expanded into the STEAM stills as the task is very demanding to get the quality I was looking to achieve. Teaching a student more about drones and letting them fly the drone would be beneficial in demonstrating to students the way math skills can be applied in real life.  Letting the students create an educational video would also help students learn more about the digital language and technology available that will prepare for further learning in this area. 

During this project I learned many new skills.  I gained valuable experience in editing a video using Final Cut Pro, operating and flying a drone safely, as well as creating a short educational video. All these acquired skills will help me as a future educator in the 21st century learning space. I believe that technology will continue to be used more often in our classroom and it will need to be incorporated in schools more as well as at home. As future educators, we need to be digitally literate along side the traditional literacy and numeracy.

In answering my Genius Hour question, “How can drones be used as effective educational tools to educate others about the world around them?”, I conclude that using drones effectively in education is only the starting point as the possibilities are endless.  Educators can use drones to produce videos, but students can learn the process as well. Schools can buy kits that challenge students to build their own drones for their technology-based clubs where cooperative team building skills can be applied. Furthermore, drones can be used to teach science, technology and math in the classrooms, as the device can be manipulated as part of experiments showing fight, fluid mechanics (air) and properties of gravity. Coding is a new area of mathematics that is now included in the 2020 Ontario Mathematics Curriculum and using drones as part of this section will provide innovative learning and an opportunity to apply coding.  As future educators, we need to stay current in our own learning so we can prepare our students for the twenty-first century.  From this point on, I will continue to incorporate drones and the newest technology in my own education as well as extending this type of innovation for my future students to experience. I realize the opportunity and time given to me to work on a topic of interest has left me with learning that will positively impact my own teaching and hobbies at home.  I would like to provide these types of learning opportunities so my future students will positively benefit from their learning journey.

 

Thank you for following me on this Genius Hour journey. I hope you also learned the benefits of using drones as teaching tools in the educational field but also the positive impacts this innovative technology can have in your own as well as your students’ learning.

Week 5

  Welcome back to my blog as we approach the completion of my Genius Hour Project. This week I began the process of gathering information to wrap up my project. First, I planned the ideas for both my Ted Talk and then the way my culminating Drone video would complete my final piece of the project.  After that, I prepared and completed my Ted Talk with the purpose to educate others about my learning on Drones and how these devises could be effectively implemented in education. Next week my final project will be posted, so stay tuned. 

I found preparing the speaking parts and filming my Ted Talk very challenging. My initial goal was to share a comprehensive captivating story about my journey without seeming it to be a simple retell.  With that in mind, I created my Ted talk without a script because when looking online I found that many excellent Ted talk speakers mentioned that they did not use scripts and the ones that did use scripts found the scripts were very distracting to their presentation to the point that they lost the audiences’ attention. In preparation, I knew my material and lived my learning experiences so I knew I could perform my speech naturally. After some research, I decided to use Will Stephen’s How to sound smart in your TEDx Talk to help me. My Ted Talk was a little bit longer than expected as I found I had so much to share about my topic and experiences that it would not fit into the 5-minute timeframe even with being concise with my word choices. I realized during my online search, that most Ted Talks were about 8 to 9 minutes long, so mine at 10 minutes would be an acceptable timeframe. I wanted to make my Ted Talk a lasting quality video that could be used to educate others about my work and the way Drones can help others learn about the world around them. If you would like to watch my TED Talk, please click on the link on this blog. 

As this was the final week to capture video to use for my final project, I had little choice but to film in the rain. I did get permission to film at Green Venture again and I was curious to see if the footage would be compromised with the rain.  I had to video tape the footage during the evening when the location was empty.  This precaution kept me within the restrictions of my Drone licence, according to guidelines set up by Transport Canada.  I planned ahead and brought extra batteries which I ended up needing to finish filming. I quickly learned that a 5-minute Drone video can require much more video footage using up many batteries.  After many hours of flight time to get the different angle shots, I took the video clips home to work on the editing part.  I also kept in mind that I would not have the chance to obtain any additional video clips during editing at home so, I made sure to get extra shots.  During the Drone flights, I unexpectantly found that birds and Drones have a love or hate relationship. Some birds I had to avoid as they tried to attack the Drone.  Most birds tried to fly in groups with the Drone which affected the video quality as they would get in the way of the camera lens. Once I got home, I did some additional research to include factual information for my voice overs on the final cut. 

This upcoming week I will edit my final clips to my video using Final Cut pro and place the finished product on my Blog site for everyone to view. Thank you for following my Drone journey on this blog.  I hope it will inspire you and others that Drones can be used to film places of interest or help teach STEM related experiences that would benefit any lesson.

Week 4

    During my Genius Hour journey this week, I learned to edit the videos I captured on my Drone. My end goal was to create an educational video that others can use to teach or learn about a place in their community. So far, I learned to operate the controls and successfully flew my first test flight in preparation of taking video clips at the location I will showcase. After much reflection, I chose Green Venture Eco House for my educational video. Green Venture is a non-profit organization that educates the community about environmental sustainability, making eco-friendly choices and being an environmentally responsible citizen. The Green Venture staff even go to schools to give workshops and run summer camps for elementary students, except with Covid this year these activities were all cancelled. However, I worked as a landscape gardener, planted pollinator gardens, set up rain barrels, made an outdoor play kitchen, maintained community gardens and took care of the trees. I learned about native plants and conserving water using rain barrels. I was excited to showcase this place on video and then use it to teach others about different ways they can be environmentally friendly and stewards of the earth. Hopefully, I will be able to use it to show students a fascinating place nearby they should visit with their families.

Once I arrived at Green Venture, I made sure that I could fly my Drone safely and checked for any wires or dangerous areas. I took many clips, from different directions and with the Drone moving at different speeds and heights. I was not sure of the quality of the clips, but I wanted the video to look professional. I took extra clips of the same areas, so I did not have to come back to take more if needed. I made sure I followed the safety rules and did not let the Drone fly too high.  
Once I got home, the next step was to learn to edit these videos to create a professional quality visual.  I found it easy to put a voice over the clips. I used the software Final Cut Pro X from Apple, as I read online that it was one of the best. This software costs $400 but I was fortunate that it came as part of Apple’s educational package with the laptop I purchased a few months ago. This software is recommended by videographers and some professional video editors too. While researching, I discovered that many YouTubers use Final Cut Pro to edit their videos as they claim the end product looks professional.  I will have to see if my video looks professional once completed.
My approach to learning to use Final Cut Pro followed the same pattern when learning to use a new device or technology – basically trial and error. I liked to practice using the software before I google the instructions in operating the different features. (See the screenshot of the Final Cut Pro). I learned to import a video already filmed from my Drone into this software. This software was easy to use and if I had any questions, I went to Apple’s website and easily searched and found the answers. Apple made it easy to cut clips and add them together to make a complete video. This week I researched ways I could use all the features especially the voice over function, so I can add important facts onto my videos. Click on the link to learn about the functions of Apple’s Final Cut Pro: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201109
I realized that Drones could be used by educators as tools to enhance learning in the classroom such as creating videos. However, I also wanted to research if Drones could be used in the classroom for direct learning, perhaps in science or mathematics. I explored the educational benefits of using Drones in the classroom, where students would use Drones as part of STEM learning, more specifically its technology, design or to solve mathematical and science problems. I knew, like all devices, Drones could share information electronically with the operator and possibly help students develop visual spatial awareness with its application.  I wonder if the Drone technology will develop and expand in terms of its educational use, or even for the average person in terms of capabilities and practical functions in the near future. I researched if schools were using Drones as part of STEM and was fascinated by the work this school is doing with their students. The video clip below was posted by the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Education: https://ets.educ.ubc.ca/4514/
    I feel excited to branch off to explore other uses that Drones can have in the classroom or even if a school wanted to form a Science and Technology Club. Along side completing the Green Venture video as a learning experience for me, I want to also find ways I can use this technology to teach science, technology and math in the classroom. Maybe I can also bring it in to demonstrate a flight experience during a science or physics lessons. Although I started with a focus to produce an educational video, I find the possibilities of using this technology in education endless. I am going to explore the possibilities of using a Drone for a STEM lesson for my next step after the Green Venture video is completed.  I will start with an online search using Drones in educational lessons and then experiment on my own.

Week 3: Research/Test Flight

     Drone technology is an expanding twenty-first century innovation which is positively impacting our lives at all levels. The capabilities are endless, as drones are used for military purposes or even to deliver Amazon packages in some locations. With this interest, I continue to explore and research the way drones can be used to educate others about the world around them. An interesting article on Brock’s Library website, “Smart Technology for Sustainable Curriculum: Using Drone to Support Young Students’ Learning” (Chou, 2018), which involved a study in Taiwan with ten Grade 3 students found that drone programming significantly improved students’ learning of spatial visualization and sequencing skills. I hope to highlight the benefits of using the drone for teaching and learning as well. In fact, My Genius Hour question: How can drones be used as effective educational tools to educate others about the world around them? also refers to my learning experience as I am becoming more proficient in using a drone for a specific purpose. I personally can see the value of using this drone technology to enhance learning experiences.  This week, I conducted my first flight test after having officially received my licence by completing the online government test. (Video Clip below). 

Operating the drone was not that easy because I had to learn all the different controls of the DJI Mavic Air model. This drone is not like the toy drones available and some of the controls are quite complex as this drone has much more capability than a toy. In fact, this model is used to film media content we see every day.  For example, Will Smith who is a famous actor and his film crew use this drone model when they travel to get shots of the city that they are staying in for his personal YouTube videos. A few of the features I tested in my short flight test was the cinematic mode and the quick shot mode. I researched that these two modes could potentially help me film good quality videos. My first flight was taken on private property, with the owner’s permission, near my house and in doing so I kept within the rules and regulations for legal drone use within a city. To edit the video for this short clip I took below, I used Final Cut Pro X from Apple. This software is expensive but came with my laptop when I purchased it a few months ago. The benefits of using this software is that the program has the capability to edit videos quickly while making them professional and educational for others to view. I also filmed my Genius Hour movie trailer with the techniques I learned during my first three 60-minute flying sessions. The movie trailer can be found under the Movie Trailer page on this blog. Before the next Genius Hour entry, I will have to locate and investigate the place I will choose to feature in the educational video.  First, I will get permission to film at this location and then follow all the rules and regulations surrounding using the drone safely in the city. The question that I am contemplating this week as I continue researching and working on my Genius Hour project: Why have educators not adopted drone technology and innovation in teaching lessons or working on projects in the classroom? 

Week 2: Drone Safety/Research

Welcome back to my Blog where I continue to track my Genius Hour progress! 

My Genius Hour Question: How can drones be used as effective educational tools to educate others about the world around them? 

 

This week I completed some research on operating drones and I figured out the steps to legally and safely fly a drone properly. Ontario has many strict rules about which locations you can fly a drone around and who you can film. When purchasing my drone, the store employees informed me that I would have to apply for a Federal Drone Pilot’s licence. Previously, I did not know you needed a formal licence to fly a drone, but this new legislation was implemented in the last two years so many may not be aware of it. Many people used to fly drones without licences and were not respecting private places or not flying them safely, so drone regulations had to be put in place for safety reasons. 

I am using the DJI Mavic Air which I happily purchased on sale. The drone weighs 430 grams and I registered it for a five-dollar fee.  According to Transport Canada’s rules, any drone over 250 grams must be registered:  https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/registering-your-drone-overview  On the application, you must also provide the purchase date, serial number and mark the drone with the registration number. However, before I could register my drone, I had to take an online drone licence exam for 10 dollars through Transport Canada’s website: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/getting-drone-pilot-certificate There are two options of the exams you can take which are Basic or Advanced. For the project I am completing, I only need the Basic licence since I will not be flying my drone close to people and I am using it for educational purposes only.

Even so, the Basic drone licence is quite an intensive test to pass. Fortunately, I passed the first time, but you can take multiple times until you pass. Once I was licenced, I test drove my drone around my house to learn to maneuver and master the controls. I also watched some YouTube videos to learn the best techniques to fly my drone around different spaces and areas. There are many settings: sport, cinematic, normal operations, and custom. I had a great learning experience operating and using this new technology.

In the upcoming weeks, I will continue researching better ways to fly the drone correctly and safely in public and let you know my progress. Thank you for continuing this learning journey with me! Join me on next week’s Blog for my Genius Hour update.

Welcome to Ryan's Blog

Hi, my name is Ryan Hunt. I am excited to share my learning journey in using a drone, more specifically how a drone can be effectively used as an educational tool. I am planning to use a multi-step process to accomplish my goal. Hopefully, this blog will help you understand how drones can be used as effective educational tools.
 
My goal for this project is to first learn how to fly a drone safely while following federal regulations operating drones. Using the drone properly, I will need to learn how to capture clear and effective videos. These videos will then need to be edited and processed into a finished product with audio overlapped onto the video. Next, I will learn how to process the finished video onto a viewing platform such as YouTube.  Here, others can view the video to learn how I used a drone as an educational tool to create my project.
 
My progress will be measured in steps of each task I had to learn and then accomplish in the real world.
 
My Genius Hour question: How can drones be used as effective educational tools to educate others about the world around them?