So You Want to Use Green Screen in Your Classroom

Why You Should    

     Nothing is more exciting for a teacher than seeing excitement boil over in your students.  Making school fun for our students should be one of our biggest goals.  Using green screen technology in your classroom is one way you can achieve this for many students.  I'm not saying everything in school is fun.  Taking assessments doesn't exactly equal to a party.  However, all assessments don't have to be multiple choice or long answer.  Showing what you have learned about something can be done in a fun way using green screen.  Here is an example of kids learning about the Bill of Rights and using video technology with green screen to show what they've learned.



This next video is an example of using green screen technology to create a video newsletter in 2012.   

Using technology this way helps kids with the writing process (writing scripts), and helps them learn to be more creative through designing, filming, editing and publishing the videos.  We've gotten a bit more advanced over they years.  This is our latest video newsletter. 


 What You Need

     I've been using green screen technology for many years and I can't tell you how often I've heard other teachers say something like, "I wish I knew how to do that" or "I wish I had the resources to do that."  It's easier than you think.
     To start, you need a green screen.  Here is the one I started with: My First Green Screen. ($18 on Amazon).  For this green screen, you will also need a way to attach it to a wall or board.  I used these spring clamps at first (Spring Clamps).  You will also need something to video tape with.  You can use something as simple as a smartphone, or something as sophisticated as a top notch video camera.  Most schools have something in the middle available to them.
     Finally, you will need video editing software.  Those schools that use Apple products can use iMovie.  iMovie has chroma key editing features built into the software.  WeVideo is free, and it's easily integrated into Google Drive.  I use Sony Vegas Movie Studio, which can be purchased for as low as $50 and you can find it even cheaper on Amazon.   Some people may be nervous about learning to use the software.  No fear my friends!  Youtube has more videos than you can count for virtually every software program.  We all also seem to have at least one "tech wiz" in each class.  You can have that student learn the software and teach you or teach the other students. 
     If you get more advanced or come into some funds, you can upgrade to a green screen like this (Green Screen with Support Stand).  One important thing to also mention is lighting.  You either need a room with pretty good lighting or if you have the funds, a Lighting Kit.  You don't have to have perfect lighting but the better lighting you have, the better the green screen affect will work.  The picture below was made using a green screen with a lighting setup. 

Now go get a green screen and get started!