Multimedia

EdTech Activity 5
//Using Multi-media//

Our students have general ideas about each others' cultures, yet is that perception accurate? Most Americans 20 somethings do not live loft apartments with their friends just as most Brits don not live near the Buckingham Palace, drink tea and enjoy cucumber sandwhichs, perhaps I exaggerate about the tea!
 * Bridging Two Cultures**

Task
What we would like you to do is to create mini-movie (no more than 3 minutes long, revealing your interpretation of each other's culture. Students can then comment on the accuracy/reality of the clips and maybe in response, create their own movies to show what their culture truly represents.

Windows Movie Maker
There is a number of webware tools and software packages we could suggest but we would like you to focus on Window Movie Maker (WMM).

Movie Maker 2.1 is available for download with Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). You can download SP2, Movie Maker 2.1, and all future critical updates automatically by [|turning on the Automatic Updates] feature in Windows XP. You can also download SP2 and Movie Maker 2.1 from [|Microsoft Update].

If you are still finding it tricky, then you can get it from [|download.com].

As with most Microsoft software packages, they provide full (ironically) [|multimedia tutorials.]

Doug Belshaw is a history teacher in the UK, he wrote his own guide for his fellow history teachers. It is easy to follow and provides plenty of screen shots, [|www.mrbelshaw.co.uk/extras/documentary/] in addition, his website is a educators mine of goodness.

Developing the EdTech Activity 5
Mary and I do not want to restrict your create skills but here are some points for you to consider. WMM can handle windows media files (for example WMA and AVI files), images and audio. Use can choose the level of difficulty that represents a suitable challenge to your skills.

Very effective and stunning mini movies can be made using imported images and then using transtions and applying video effects. Add audio to you mini movie using a mic or through adding an mp3s.
 * Level 1**

Create, download and import video from either your camcorder, phone or WMM files. Edit the material to create your mini movie. Again, add audio to you mini movie using a mic or through adding an mp3s. Grandpa makes his point in this home [|movie].
 * Level 2**

Multimedia mashup.... mixing video content together.
 * Level 3**

If you want to use Media Files from YouTube or other hosting sites you will first have to download them or convert them. [|Zamzar] can be used to convert files and convert files from URLs (the internet). Students at Tauntons College used a range of news and Nike commerical clips to create their multimedia mashups on Ethics in Sport.

Finally, you will need to upload this movie to your googlevideo or youtube account to get the code to embed it on the wiki.

Reflect and Discuss

 * Your final task is to reflect on the EdTech Activity 5 assessing its potential for engaging learners using the discussion forum.**

Two points for your consideration;
 * 1) What skills do you need to develop at an educator to be able to confidently use multimedia tools?
 * 2) What potential impact did the activity have on your learning?

If you feel this WMM is a step backwards then you may wish to take a look at webware tools such as [|mojiti.com].