Virtual Mission Trip-What we need and how to make one
This trip home to the states is coming to a close and I have been working to create a blog that gives a lot more detail about what a Virtual Mission Trip, what types of Virtual Mission Trips we need and how to go about creating one. I will eventually takes this blog and post as a tab at the top of the page here on my blog site so people can find it easily and reference it often. I will also attempt to update it with Virtual Mission Trips I have received.
What is a Virtual Mission Trip?
This is one of those not so crazy ideas I get when I am walking for miles on dirt roads. It really is not anything new, just a more focused view for those wanting to participate in projects to help others. A Virtual Mission Trip is where you (or someone helping you) creates a video we can show our students, our teachers or the community in general that helps in some way just as if you spent thousands of dollars and took a week or two off work and traveled here to do something with our students, our teachers or the community in general.
Examples of Virtual Mission Trips include reading a story to our students just like if you were coming here and doing it in person; telling and showing someone about something you are passionate about like hiking or music that provides some level of education with it, teaching our teachers ways to get through to students using common objects we can get here, explaining how to make or do things like crochet or weld. These examples are only the tip of the iceberg of what we can use so if you have an idea please contact me and I will give you my honest opinion about if we can use it.
I can find a lot of these videos on YouTube and I have used those while we are starting this up, but I like for people who have a connection to our school or with me to be included in this project. In addition when I know or have contact with the people who make these videos I can share with them pictures or impact stories of how they helped.
Who can make a Virtual Mission Trip?
Anyone with access to a camera or smartphone, however for those under the age of 18 please make sure your parents are involved and discuss with them how private you want us to keep the video (more on that in the section on getting the video to me).
I have several middle schoolers who have made videos reading books for me. A parent knows what they are doing and helps get the videos to me. I have had quite a few folks who are more seasoned with experience of life who let me record them reading books.
While the virtual mission trip is important to our school ministry, it does not replace the need for occasional mission trips in person. It does however give people who may not be comfortable traveling out of the country, people physically unable to travel long distances and harsh environments, people who may be too young to travel over by themselves, or people who cannot afford the cost or time required for a trip over a chance to participate in our ministry here.
If you feel comfortable video recording with your camera or smartphone and uploading it to the computer to me, you can help those who want to do this but may be worried about the technology aspect.
How to make a Virtual Mission Trip
This is a difficult question to give you all the answers to because everyone has access to different computers and video equipment. I will try to give the basics and hopefully you are familiar enough with your personal equipment to utilize these tips. If you are not comfortable with the process of making a video let me know and I will see if I can match you up with someone who is or that we can possibly work together when I am stateside. Sorry apple product lovers-I don't use them so I don't know how to help you with those.
The best format is .mp4 which is common to most cameras and smartphones. Apple products use .mov and I can convert those to a usable format for the TV. A video between 3 and 8 minutes is best. I love 5 minute videos because it makes it easier on me scheduling the shows on Wednesday. If you are doing a video for the teachers or the community the length is not as important because I will have more time with them. It does matter if you are sending it electronically because a 20 minute video eats up all my bandwidth and limited time in town. I do have opportunities once a month to get larger files.
It is important when making a video you find a place that is somewhat quiet but you don't have to us a sound studio. I simply closed the door on the office at use which is connected to a couple of hair stylists, barber shops and other offices via a shared hallway and it is quiet enough to make a video.
If you are doing this yourself, you will need somewhere to prop up your smartphone or a tripod to hold your camera. I have even used a selfie stick before. You may also be able to use the video chat camera on your computer. When doing something like reading a book, get where you face the camera even though you will only use short segment of that image. If you are instructing someone how to do something you need to be able to move the focus of the camera to the activity. This works better with someone or stopping the video while you reset the focal point.
Speak clearly and at a pace for people whose native language is not english can hear each word. It does not have to be a..t....a.....s...u...p...e...r......s...l...o...w.....p...a...c...e. But it needs to be easier to hear each word separately and a more deliberate pace makes it easier if you need to edit things later.
Plan your video. Plan your video. Plan your video. We are not looking for professional quality productions, but a little planning goes a long way to make the shooting of the video go smoothly. Plan what you are going to focus on and if you need to reset the placement of the camera. Plan and practice what you are going to say. One of the most important aspects of the virtual mission trip is for them to hear english spoken properly so a lot of uhhms and saying something like like forty times in five minutes gets picked up by the listener.
You can use video clips, still pictures or drawing to help create your video. In one of the examples below I used only a short video and the rest of the program is made using still pictures and I recorded myself talking over them.
If you are doing a video where you are reading a book, the best method I have found is to record the audio in a video clip where you introduce yourself (just say Hello my name is) the book, the author and illustrator then continue with reading the book. I suggest giving yourself a pause when turning the page as this helps in editing to find your spot. I then take pictures of the illustrated pages and text that I then place over the video while I am talking. That way they see the illustrations and text while listening to me talk.
The more you are doing activity wise in your video, the more you will need someone helping you.
Editing a video
You can make a video that is simple one video shot with no editing and that is great. But if you need additional shots or adding still pictures like the pages of a book, you will need the video edited. Several folks have sent me the raw video footage in an .mp4 type format (common on cameras and smartphones) and the pictures and I have done the editing for them. I am willing and happy to do that.
If you want to try it on your own and don't want to spend a fortune, you can use the free software that comes on most apple and windows computers. If you want something that is easier to control and get what you want, I suggest Cyberlink Power Director. There is a free version available in the Microsoft Windows App Store. I have used that for years. In fact my version is several iterations ago.
Using the H.364 AVC button on production gives you .mp4 type of video.
Here is the completed version of reading the book I used in the still pictures above.
Sending a Virtual Mission Trip to the Students in Tanzania
Here is where privacy may become an issue you want to consider. If you don't want the general public to see your video especially if it is your children helping us out, then please make sure I know first. Then you can upload the video to YouTube and mark it as private so only someone with a link can see or download the video. Or you can wait until I am in the States (I come home twice a year so it will not be too long) and give to me in person on a thumb drive. Emailing large files does not always work great but if you have dropbox, google drive etc. you can upload it there and send me the link to get it.
When I am in Africa I have limited time in town and bandwidth so I tend to hold off downloading videos until it is convenient for me. But trust me if you make one I am going to download it.
If you want to upload your Virtual Mission Trip video to YouTube for me to download, then the following video should cover that.
Types of Virtual Mission Trips we need
First let me so on this topic if you have an idea that I did not mention, it may just be I have not been bright enough to think of it yet. Please share with me your thoughts.
Story reading: These are the ones I need the most of and use the most. I am mainly using illustrated kids books because of the age group we have the most of and the older kids still love them. However we will be moving to more advanced readers in the future years so if you have some ideas along that point we can use them. The example for this was above so not much to say there. Best place to get books is the library for free. Read it and return it. If you want to purchase a book and send it over, I highly recommend Kohl's books for charity programs. They are $5, illustrated and the money you spend helps someone else.
Teach the Teachers: Teachers in Tanzania have limited resources including their own education. We would like examples of how they can teach subjects common in 1st through 7th grade (we will eventually have that) using methods other than a blackboard. They learned on the blackboard and often think that is the only method. Being able to give them examples of teaching using other methods that may reach kids who don't do well learning off the blackboard are important.
We can also use teach the teachers english videos. I get a lot of these from YouTube but they are mostly pronunciation and British English. If you would like to do some basic teaching videos on the subject of proper english, then please do them. We can even do assignments for them to work on. I made them write a two paragraph introduction recently so I could see their writing skills and work on those.
Here is an example where I am trying to teach the teachers how to use tactile math to reinforce the blackboard instruction on carrying forward and borrowing from.
Community or Student Education: These are where you get to do some teaching yourself. These are helpful because you may be able to use resources we don't have available to us in Tanzania and it helps reinforce what the teachers are doing. These don't just have to be teaching our students because we can set up some community education sessions. Those are tricky because they may not speak english so we may be using a translator or using the video of the action with Kiswahili teaching. These can cover a large variety of possibilities including (but not limited to): shapes using physical 3d shapes, sports instruction like soccer skills or volleyball rules, crochet, hand sewing, making types of jewelry, welding, masonry, how to train a dog. I think a lot of you have ideas I have no clue about yet so feel free to ask.
Here is a video I made quickly about crocheting a "granny triangle" for a wash cloth. The most difficult part was setting up the camera so it could see from my point of view and then crocheting while looking at the video screen of my smartphone.
Something you are passionate about and want to share: This is the one I really though I would get the most Virtual Mission Trips about but alas I did not get but one a short video of some folks brushing their horses. This is the most broad category because it can be anything you want to share to help broaden the minds of our students. It does not have to be educational but often will be just by exposing them to things they will never see here.
This can fit in with those educational videos because it may be something you are passionate about like crochet or sports. I have one young lady at our church who has agreed to make one on the basics of how a guitar makes music and playing (maybe singing) a song for us. I can tell you the students will love this video. I will get requests to show it again and again.
I have made an example video of something I love to do when I am home because it involves nature and spending time with my dad. We go to Gatlinburg and hike. This one uses mostly still images I put in the video editor and then cut on the microphone on the computer and talked over the images. It has one small video clip of a spring.
I also made a video talking a little bit about the team coming over to visit them in person.
Last but definitely not least--Music: The students love music and love any video I show that has music. I would love to share with them your VBS program singing, your youth choir singing, your youth band, your worship choir, men's or women's ensembles. Just you singing if that is something you love would be great.
I don't have an example of this because I don't sing or play an instrument. I have been told I only keep time to a machine gun when I was in the military. So I need you to make me lots of these I can do examples from.
any questions, ideas or just want to talk about please contact me at steveintanzania@gmail.com
What is a Virtual Mission Trip?
This is one of those not so crazy ideas I get when I am walking for miles on dirt roads. It really is not anything new, just a more focused view for those wanting to participate in projects to help others. A Virtual Mission Trip is where you (or someone helping you) creates a video we can show our students, our teachers or the community in general that helps in some way just as if you spent thousands of dollars and took a week or two off work and traveled here to do something with our students, our teachers or the community in general.
Examples of Virtual Mission Trips include reading a story to our students just like if you were coming here and doing it in person; telling and showing someone about something you are passionate about like hiking or music that provides some level of education with it, teaching our teachers ways to get through to students using common objects we can get here, explaining how to make or do things like crochet or weld. These examples are only the tip of the iceberg of what we can use so if you have an idea please contact me and I will give you my honest opinion about if we can use it.
I can find a lot of these videos on YouTube and I have used those while we are starting this up, but I like for people who have a connection to our school or with me to be included in this project. In addition when I know or have contact with the people who make these videos I can share with them pictures or impact stories of how they helped.
Who can make a Virtual Mission Trip?
Anyone with access to a camera or smartphone, however for those under the age of 18 please make sure your parents are involved and discuss with them how private you want us to keep the video (more on that in the section on getting the video to me).
I have several middle schoolers who have made videos reading books for me. A parent knows what they are doing and helps get the videos to me. I have had quite a few folks who are more seasoned with experience of life who let me record them reading books.
While the virtual mission trip is important to our school ministry, it does not replace the need for occasional mission trips in person. It does however give people who may not be comfortable traveling out of the country, people physically unable to travel long distances and harsh environments, people who may be too young to travel over by themselves, or people who cannot afford the cost or time required for a trip over a chance to participate in our ministry here.
If you feel comfortable video recording with your camera or smartphone and uploading it to the computer to me, you can help those who want to do this but may be worried about the technology aspect.
How to make a Virtual Mission Trip
This is a difficult question to give you all the answers to because everyone has access to different computers and video equipment. I will try to give the basics and hopefully you are familiar enough with your personal equipment to utilize these tips. If you are not comfortable with the process of making a video let me know and I will see if I can match you up with someone who is or that we can possibly work together when I am stateside. Sorry apple product lovers-I don't use them so I don't know how to help you with those.
The best format is .mp4 which is common to most cameras and smartphones. Apple products use .mov and I can convert those to a usable format for the TV. A video between 3 and 8 minutes is best. I love 5 minute videos because it makes it easier on me scheduling the shows on Wednesday. If you are doing a video for the teachers or the community the length is not as important because I will have more time with them. It does matter if you are sending it electronically because a 20 minute video eats up all my bandwidth and limited time in town. I do have opportunities once a month to get larger files.
It is important when making a video you find a place that is somewhat quiet but you don't have to us a sound studio. I simply closed the door on the office at use which is connected to a couple of hair stylists, barber shops and other offices via a shared hallway and it is quiet enough to make a video.
If you are doing this yourself, you will need somewhere to prop up your smartphone or a tripod to hold your camera. I have even used a selfie stick before. You may also be able to use the video chat camera on your computer. When doing something like reading a book, get where you face the camera even though you will only use short segment of that image. If you are instructing someone how to do something you need to be able to move the focus of the camera to the activity. This works better with someone or stopping the video while you reset the focal point.
Speak clearly and at a pace for people whose native language is not english can hear each word. It does not have to be a..t....a.....s...u...p...e...r......s...l...o...w.....p...a...c...e. But it needs to be easier to hear each word separately and a more deliberate pace makes it easier if you need to edit things later.
Plan your video. Plan your video. Plan your video. We are not looking for professional quality productions, but a little planning goes a long way to make the shooting of the video go smoothly. Plan what you are going to focus on and if you need to reset the placement of the camera. Plan and practice what you are going to say. One of the most important aspects of the virtual mission trip is for them to hear english spoken properly so a lot of uhhms and saying something like like forty times in five minutes gets picked up by the listener.
You can use video clips, still pictures or drawing to help create your video. In one of the examples below I used only a short video and the rest of the program is made using still pictures and I recorded myself talking over them.
If you are doing a video where you are reading a book, the best method I have found is to record the audio in a video clip where you introduce yourself (just say Hello my name is) the book, the author and illustrator then continue with reading the book. I suggest giving yourself a pause when turning the page as this helps in editing to find your spot. I then take pictures of the illustrated pages and text that I then place over the video while I am talking. That way they see the illustrations and text while listening to me talk.
The more you are doing activity wise in your video, the more you will need someone helping you.
Editing a video
You can make a video that is simple one video shot with no editing and that is great. But if you need additional shots or adding still pictures like the pages of a book, you will need the video edited. Several folks have sent me the raw video footage in an .mp4 type format (common on cameras and smartphones) and the pictures and I have done the editing for them. I am willing and happy to do that.
If you want to try it on your own and don't want to spend a fortune, you can use the free software that comes on most apple and windows computers. If you want something that is easier to control and get what you want, I suggest Cyberlink Power Director. There is a free version available in the Microsoft Windows App Store. I have used that for years. In fact my version is several iterations ago.
The full editor allows you place the video on one editing track and then you can work with the pictures on another track. This is when those pauses turning pages are important because you can see the flat line on the audio track and insert the next still image there.
Using the H.364 AVC button on production gives you .mp4 type of video.
Here is the completed version of reading the book I used in the still pictures above.
Sending a Virtual Mission Trip to the Students in Tanzania
Here is where privacy may become an issue you want to consider. If you don't want the general public to see your video especially if it is your children helping us out, then please make sure I know first. Then you can upload the video to YouTube and mark it as private so only someone with a link can see or download the video. Or you can wait until I am in the States (I come home twice a year so it will not be too long) and give to me in person on a thumb drive. Emailing large files does not always work great but if you have dropbox, google drive etc. you can upload it there and send me the link to get it.
When I am in Africa I have limited time in town and bandwidth so I tend to hold off downloading videos until it is convenient for me. But trust me if you make one I am going to download it.
If you want to upload your Virtual Mission Trip video to YouTube for me to download, then the following video should cover that.
Types of Virtual Mission Trips we need
First let me so on this topic if you have an idea that I did not mention, it may just be I have not been bright enough to think of it yet. Please share with me your thoughts.
Story reading: These are the ones I need the most of and use the most. I am mainly using illustrated kids books because of the age group we have the most of and the older kids still love them. However we will be moving to more advanced readers in the future years so if you have some ideas along that point we can use them. The example for this was above so not much to say there. Best place to get books is the library for free. Read it and return it. If you want to purchase a book and send it over, I highly recommend Kohl's books for charity programs. They are $5, illustrated and the money you spend helps someone else.
Teach the Teachers: Teachers in Tanzania have limited resources including their own education. We would like examples of how they can teach subjects common in 1st through 7th grade (we will eventually have that) using methods other than a blackboard. They learned on the blackboard and often think that is the only method. Being able to give them examples of teaching using other methods that may reach kids who don't do well learning off the blackboard are important.
We can also use teach the teachers english videos. I get a lot of these from YouTube but they are mostly pronunciation and British English. If you would like to do some basic teaching videos on the subject of proper english, then please do them. We can even do assignments for them to work on. I made them write a two paragraph introduction recently so I could see their writing skills and work on those.
Here is an example where I am trying to teach the teachers how to use tactile math to reinforce the blackboard instruction on carrying forward and borrowing from.
Community or Student Education: These are where you get to do some teaching yourself. These are helpful because you may be able to use resources we don't have available to us in Tanzania and it helps reinforce what the teachers are doing. These don't just have to be teaching our students because we can set up some community education sessions. Those are tricky because they may not speak english so we may be using a translator or using the video of the action with Kiswahili teaching. These can cover a large variety of possibilities including (but not limited to): shapes using physical 3d shapes, sports instruction like soccer skills or volleyball rules, crochet, hand sewing, making types of jewelry, welding, masonry, how to train a dog. I think a lot of you have ideas I have no clue about yet so feel free to ask.
Here is a video I made quickly about crocheting a "granny triangle" for a wash cloth. The most difficult part was setting up the camera so it could see from my point of view and then crocheting while looking at the video screen of my smartphone.
Something you are passionate about and want to share: This is the one I really though I would get the most Virtual Mission Trips about but alas I did not get but one a short video of some folks brushing their horses. This is the most broad category because it can be anything you want to share to help broaden the minds of our students. It does not have to be educational but often will be just by exposing them to things they will never see here.
This can fit in with those educational videos because it may be something you are passionate about like crochet or sports. I have one young lady at our church who has agreed to make one on the basics of how a guitar makes music and playing (maybe singing) a song for us. I can tell you the students will love this video. I will get requests to show it again and again.
I have made an example video of something I love to do when I am home because it involves nature and spending time with my dad. We go to Gatlinburg and hike. This one uses mostly still images I put in the video editor and then cut on the microphone on the computer and talked over the images. It has one small video clip of a spring.
I also made a video talking a little bit about the team coming over to visit them in person.
Last but definitely not least--Music: The students love music and love any video I show that has music. I would love to share with them your VBS program singing, your youth choir singing, your youth band, your worship choir, men's or women's ensembles. Just you singing if that is something you love would be great.
I don't have an example of this because I don't sing or play an instrument. I have been told I only keep time to a machine gun when I was in the military. So I need you to make me lots of these I can do examples from.
any questions, ideas or just want to talk about please contact me at steveintanzania@gmail.com
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