This week, our EDLD 5363 Multimedia and Video Technology assignment was to produce a Podcast plan, a Podcast Script, and finally, based upon this plan and script, record a podcast. This week’s assignment was very interesting. It caused me to open and use a program that I have had on my computer since I bought it about two years ago! Video editing is very challenging. Many times we forget what goes into creating what we see on the screen or hear on various venues. This exercise has given me a new appreciation for the craft and skill that is need to make multimedia meaningful, especially for our students.
I decided to use Windows Movie Maker in the past, but I found it very limiting to the green screening features and overall video quality that I was looking for in my current job assignment. When I use Windows Movie Maker, I usually save the files in a .wmv or .avi file format. This allows me to easily use it for instant playback on any computer at my school or it allows for easy uploading to video hosting websites. Windows Movie Maker also has an easy to use interface and for the more skilled computer users it allows for some advance video modifications. “Of course, most free software does not include the same level or quality of support that you would expect to find with software that you purchase commercially” (Desk-Video-Guide, 2009). If you are into higher quality products with ease of use and advance video editing features, you will not find that in any “freeware” or “open-source” video editing program that I have evaluated. Thus, I chose to produce a podcast tutorial entitled "Create Quick and Easy Videos with Windows Movie Maker ".
I first created the Podcast Plan, an outline that detailed the major steps or components of the podcast. Next, I wrote my Podcast Script, being careful to describe what I was seeing and doing on the Movie Maker screen so that listeners could follow along with the audio tutorial and edit a video. I used Audacity to record my podcast script along with extra narration and instructions, edit it to remove all elements not in my original podcast script, and then save the finished product as an MP3 file which I posted on Podbean.
As a result of this assignment, I feel very confident suing Windows Movie Maker and Audacity; but very intuitive. I did not have much experience using Audacity in the other classes nor at work, however am somewhat familiar with using Movie Maker. I plan to use these products in the future to produce more tutorials such as this for my teachers in Pasadena ISD. As Lonnquist (1994) points out, “Whether you’re creating a Hollywood feature film or tightening a vacation video, the challenge is to take raw footage and within the limitation of equipment and budget, transform it into something compelling and watchable”; it is the product that should be the focus of our efforts, not the video production tools themselves.
As a result of this assignment, I feel very confident suing Windows Movie Maker and Audacity; but very intuitive. I did not have much experience using Audacity in the other classes nor at work, however am somewhat familiar with using Movie Maker. I plan to use these products in the future to produce more tutorials such as this for my teachers in Pasadena ISD. As Lonnquist (1994) points out, “Whether you’re creating a Hollywood feature film or tightening a vacation video, the challenge is to take raw footage and within the limitation of equipment and budget, transform it into something compelling and watchable”; it is the product that should be the focus of our efforts, not the video production tools themselves.
Lonquist, Janis. (1994). The Art of the Edit. Retrieved June 16, 2012 from http://www.school-video-news.com/index_files/Art_of_the_Edit2.htm
