Simple is OK Sometimes

This summer I was facilitating a 3 day workshop exploring digital tools in the early years (Kindergarten to grade 2). There was this moment shifting from visual mediums (photography, doodling, book creation) to sound when I panicked. I'm definitely not as comfortable with podcasting and music creation as other mediums but I think often when we share podcasting projects as colleagues they are much more grand and with much older friends. What could it look like with our younger friends? Our Mindful Moments is definitely not the grand podcasts we have attempted with older friends. Everything from our planning page to the tracks in Garageband feels simple, basic really but simple is ok sometimes.

Our Mindful Moments are short, quick episodes created with our primary friends (grade 1, 2 and 3) in a 1 hour shared writing experience in the Library Learning Commons. Together we plan, record, start the editing process and then I share them a few days later with our school community. Now two years later, having worked through the flow multiple times, we have nailed our process down.

Planning in Freeform

 

We use this [very very basic] outline in Freeform each time we create:

1. Choosing a theme for the mindful moment (sometimes this is done before hand if the classroom educator has an idea they want to explore)
2. Next we choose a breathing technique to guide listeners through - from techniques we use as a school, in their class or sometimes they just make one up on the spot (this is a great chance for us to work through descriptive writing as we try out our descriptions, revisit and revise)
3. Following our practice as a school for affirmations, we plan out 3 or 4 affirmations that connect back to the theme for their episode (Again a great chance to authentically discuss connecting to our main theme)
4. Finally we add a note or two on how we would like to end the episode

Record in Garageband

 

Once we have our plan/script ready to go, we jump into Garageband. We started the podcast before we picked up a wireless microphone and it worked just as well. We just passed around the iPad. Students are invited to record sections of the script alone or with a buddy. Being able to drag the script in Freeform up on screen while in Garageband, really helps build student comfort.

Sometimes we decide as a group if there are elements where we want to record all together. We don't stress about a completely quiet studio - we just go with the flow.

Once our narration is in, we work on choosing a soundtrack that would support our chosen episode theme. Loops is always our go to first. Sometimes for nature sounds we head over to the BBC Sound Effects library to search for the just right fit. This year I want to explore recording and mixing our own nature sounds.

Depending on the group and the age, some friends stay with us for the whole creation process. Other times we will split it up or keep friends that are interested. We let them lead throughout.

Sharing in a Few Different Ways

 

The last few pieces of the editing process are left to me. Often we have modelled a few trimmed recordings or split audio tracks together but the clip needs one last once over before sharing. The sharing is the best part! After exporting the audio file, we share the clip in our digital morning announcements for Wellness Wednesday. A lot of our families and classrooms follow on our social media platforms so we post there as well. Lastly, we publish on Podcasts which makes everyone feel a bit more official.

*As a side note, we ensure all our learners have our general media release completed before recording. As mentioned above we ensure they consent to recording (friends can pass if they like) and then also don't include any individual student information when publishing to the school, social media or publishing the podcast episode.

If you saw us creating, it really wouldn't look spectacular. Small moments, chatting, discussing, modelling the digital tools as we create together. Along the way though we hit on several of our curricular expectations (the writing process, media formats or expression). I think for me it is always the stories of friends that went home, opened the app and started creating their own adventures that is the most exciting.

I just have to keep reminding myself simple is OK sometimes.