Do you have an iPad?
Chances are that your school or library has one and we know that kids are already pretty savvy using them. And while playing with the Photo Booth app is fun at a program, you can do more with the iPad you already have!
Our library recently added the Journalism kit from a company called Padcaster. We’ve tried a variety of video options over the years (Google+ Hangouts on Air, YouTube Streaming, a Mevo) and I have lots of experience carting around multiple totes of equipment. The Padcaster and it’s accessories all fit in an easy to carry backpack, so it’s storage and convenience combined.
You can edit your videos from iMovie on the iPad, or share them to Dropbox to edit on a desktop machine.
Why did we invest in another set up when we already have a robust A/V cabinet?
As technology improves it gets smaller, lighter, and compliments equipment we already have. We were intrigued by their idea of using a sturdy frame around an iPad to attached tools to make videos look great. And our older equipment hasn’t been gathering dust, we have the flexibility to pick and choose what is the best fit for each event.
How could I use it in my programming?
- Invite kids to come in and read from a book, then edit the clips together to tell a story. Have you seen the line to do this at ALA?
- Students could use it to create news stories or presentations.
- Film your staff/directors/stakeholders sharing a message. This is a great excuse to add the Teleprompter to your order, it works with any phone from a free app! I will definitely be using this the next time I get asked to film a Summer Reading video.
What ways are you already using video in your programming?
Angela Nolet
Librarian, Online Library Services
King County Library System
This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competencies: III. Programming Skills and IV. Knowledge, Curation, and Management of Materials.