I've been asked to teach a class

[ainsworth]

One of the high schools has asked me to come in and talk to their IT class on how sequencing is done. My idea was to show them the basics of setting up the channel configuration and animation, very quickly, then have the class start to sequence a song themselves, using my "normal" configuration file.

To just stand there and talk to them about timing marks, fades, twinkle, shimmer etc. I think would be boring as heck. To let them actually try sequencing would be more fun for them I would think. If they really get into it, I will have to come back several times so they can finish their sequence with the "prize" being I will run it in my show.

Does this sound like a reasonable way to attack this? Any suggestions on how to make it more fun for them? All input is welcome!

The class is actually going to have a field trip to watch the display.

[George Simmons]

I think learning by doing is by far the most effective way to learn. Sounds like a great opportunity for both you and the students. And it also sounds like fun. Keep us posted on how it turns out.

[lightzilla]

That is one way to get some sequences done for a show. lol

You should print out those "How To" manuals on the Lor website as well so that the students have something to refer to.

95% of what you hear you forget, and if they have something to read then it drops to 85 percent.

Studying drops that number more and by you getting them to sequence on computers will really help.

With a manual beside them and you watching in ever now and then they will be off & running.

[JBullard]

So you are going to have one student at a time work on the sequence on your laptop? How many students are in the class?

(I first thought you were going to use the demo software on the schools computers, but seem to remember that will result in the encryted file that can only be used on the computer that created it, so guess that wouldn't work)

[ainsworth]

I was hoping that the class would work as a team. Come up with how the different elements would work at a point in the song. They will only have my laptop to work on, so yes 1 at a time. I actually have 3 computers that I work on, but if I let 3 work at the same time, how would I merge the 3 files to make 1 sequence? If I could do that I could split them up into groups and let the groups work on different parts of the song.

I'm looking at the help files now to get ideas on how to get them started. I assume that is the "how to" manuals you were talking about. If not get me to the right place.

This is a great help. Thank you very much

[Guest guest]

How realistic is it to have them set up a very small display at the school? I know time is running out to the holidays, and holiday break will start soon, but would be cool for them to have a display running that would show off their work..

[Paul Roberson]

If the students are working with the same audio file it should not be to hard to merge (cut and paste) 3 sequences together.

You could have each group work on certain time sections of the song.



Sounds like fun. Defiantly not just a 45 min to an hour class. ; )



It would be cool to have all the students use their own computer with S2 to sequence on. Let them choose their own music from a list of course. Then have a night and time set aside to run all their sequences in a show.

As far as the encryption goes. I would talk to Dan. Maybe you could send the files to them and they could "fix" them for you. These students could be potential customers for LOR. ; )

[scubado]

Paul Roberson wrote:

If the students are working with the same audio file it should not be to hard to merge (cut and paste) 3 sequences together.

You could have each group work on certain time sections of the song.



Sounds like fun. Defiantly not just a 45 min to an hour class. ; )



It would be cool to have all the students use their own computer with S2 to sequence on. Let them choose their own music from a list of course. Then have a night and time set aside to run all their sequences in a show.

As far as the encryption goes. I would talk to Dan. Maybe you could send the files to them and they could "fix" them for you. These students could be potential customers for LOR. ; )

I like this idea the best. Or, I don't know how big your display is, but what about small groups work on different tracks?

[ainsworth]

Thanks to everyone and their comments and suggestions. I did it today in a special 2 hour class with 8 students. They were interested, and really wanted to do their own sequence.

After about 1 1/2 hours they had finished 20 seconds of their song (they chose to do "all right now" by Free). They then confirmed that I was an obsessed lunatic for have 20 something song sequenced. ROFL!!!

Some of the better quotes were; "really cool result but it takes so much time to do" "How can you stand to listen to the same part of a song over and over" and my favorite "did you really do all those sequences yourself"

I had them working with my 80 channel configuration. To be honest they got hung up playing with the wheel and the spiral tree.

Anyway I think it was a huge success. The kids were very interested, ask some very good questions, and had a lot of fun. Oh and George they thought you were even nutter than I am hahahaha. I showed them a couple of your sequences on vimeo.

I would recommend teaching a class to anyone, and I would do it again in a heart beat.

Merry Christmas to all