O.K., crafting videos are not my forte. I just don't have time to create videos for classroom instruction. That's why I use videos from websites such as Schooltube and Youtube. People who are great at video production can produce videos with pertinent information and dazzle at the same time! However, since I agree with Hicks on p.104--"Video texts--of live events with real people; of scripted well-produced television shows or films; of hand-drawn, computer or stop-motion animation; and many other forms--may be the form of digital writing many of us need to learn to convey information in the twenty-first century"--I decided it was time to get on the video train and ride.
After reading Hicks' chapters on audio and video presentations, I decided that I could find a way to create a video without using a video camera. Since I really like Crash Course and Sparknotes videos, I wanted to create a presentation that would have animation, images, and videos embedded. I used PowerPoint as my basis and turned it into a movie with narration added. I figure that I am more likely to use PowerPoint or Google Slides than iMovie. I can turn a slide show into a video and upload it to Slideshare and connect it to Edmodo for my students to watch.
My video can be seen on the Facebook
page and here:
My intro video is not a smooth production, but that is because I am attempting to use as many tools as I think will be useful in a class presentation. I have used images, but I also have added animation, embedded videos, and captured screenshots for images.Another issue is that I am using PowerPoint2008, and it does not embed videos or narration. If I were using my presentation for my classes, this would not be an issue as I would be using my own computer and the videos and narration would work flawlessly on my own device. However, because I have had to upload it here and on Facebook, I had to use Quicktime to record my voice over the slides and create a movie. It's gawky, but serves the purpose of this assignment. I assure you, my slide/movie when played on my computer runs and sounds much better!
As I was working on the PowerPoint, I was thinking of this comment from flipped-learning.com: "Taking the time and effort to create your content for your students shows and makes the process more authentic. One of the most important things about making your own videos is that you ensure that the lesson is taught the way you want it to be." (This website is filled with many great suggestions. I highly recommend it.) While I like to direct students to videos on the web, Edutopia's Chris O'Neal makes a very good point to consider when using online videos: "One critical issue to keep in mind when sharing and discussing these videos with your students is media literacy, including general Internet reliability. Are the videos truly what they say they are?"
Of course, my ultimate goal is to guide students in creating their own videos. Most students really enjoy crafting videos. The process always starts with writing the script. Students like the visual aspects of crafting presentations, but the foundation is the script! The "story" is the story, especially when crafting presentations about literature and history.
I could have submitted my original iMovie for this assignment. iMovie just looks more professional; however, I know that my own lessons are more likely going to be slideshows, and now I know how to turn them into a movie. This experience has been fun. I imagine that I will use slideshows with videos, narration, etc., more often in the future. But more importantly, I can now help students create their own videos, and they are eager to create!
References:
Fox, J. (2015). Making Quality Flipped Class Videos. Web. 23 March 2015.
http://flippedclass.com/making-quality-flipped-class-videos/
Hicks, T. (2013). Creating Digital Writing: Composing Texts Across Media and Genres. Portsmouth,
N.H.: Heineman. Print.O'Neal, C. (2006). Online Interactivity for Educators: A Teacher's Tour of YouTube. Web. 20
March 2015. http://www.edutopia.org/teachers-tour-you-tube
