K-5 Science Teachers Create their own Narrated Slideshows for Teaching

KQED Teacher Tech Trainings are a series of free workshops offered to K-5 teachers interested in learning how to use digital media tools to enhance science learning. The trainings are designed to focus on a specific digital media tool, such as slideshow or audio recording, and build the confidence of educators to use and create multimedia projects in their classrooms. Many participants walk in to workshops with very little experience integrating technology and learning. By the end of the second class, teachers walk away impressed with what they learned and proud of what they produced.

“Wow! I learned how to create a PowerPoint in 2 days. This technology seemed so hard just a few days ago. Now I feel I can really use this technology in the classroom.” – Participant in TTT series one.

In two Saturdays a group of teachers learned how to create a narrated slideshow using iMovie and Windows Movie Maker. Educators examined how images, narrative, and voice weave together to produce engaging and informative content. Participants watched an example of a science-related narrated slideshow produced by KQED QUEST titled Mud Snails featuring an invasive species from Japan affecting Bay Area shorelines. This slideshow demonstrates the role images and narration play in explaining science information effectively and leaves you curiously wanting to know more. Take a look at QUEST’s segment on mud snails:

Using slideshows in class can add a new dimension to lessons. As mentioned above, it can help teachers create their own content for teaching, and older students can even create their own multimedia project as a means to digitally express their learning.

To start planning narrated slideshows in your classroom, download the script template and other tips to implement multimedia projects from our Media-Making Toolkit. Or if you’re interested in joining KQED Education in a future workshop, visit KQED ScienceLab for a schedule.

Take a peek at some of our educators’ finished projects in our playlist. Below, you can see Monina address 3rd grade life science content standard on biomes. Helen’s interactive slideshow engages her first graders’ inquiry of balance. Minda ties in the study of bison to spark interest on an upcoming social studies unit on Native American history. Anne provides a visual connection for her speech class who are interested in dinosaurs and fossils. Mimi demonstrates the science behind breath and voice for her music class. Sylvia shows her kindergarteners the everyday items that comes from a tree. Laurie looks at the various kinds of penguins for K-2 science students.

There are seven videos in this series although you can only see one player. The single player hosts all seven videos (thank you YouTube playlist). To access the other six videos, you must click on the text that reads “Playlist” on the bottom left corner of the video player.