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Friday, December 21, 2012

EDLD 5363: Web Conference Reflection: Week 5

Today, I attended my third live web conference, and I felt more comfortable participating and asking more questions than the two previous times. I had the opportunity to ask Dr. Abernathy questions that contributed to the completion of week 5 final project. I felt that participating in this week’s web conference was very beneficial, because I was really confused as to what needed to be turned in for week 4 and what things could and could not be included in our video project. Dr. Abernathy was very helpful in providing me with a clear understanding of everything that needed to be done in order to complete the course successfully. She also answered some questions about future courses and some of the requirements for each of them.

EDLD 5363: Web Conference Reflection: Week 2

This is the second web conference I participate in, it has been a few days since the first time I participate and I already feel a little more prepared. I went to the store and purchased a headset, just by having this equipment available during the conference, I was able to really understand what Dr. Abernathy was saying during the whole conference. This time I did not participate much in this conference either, but I did chat with one of my team members. She helped me create a drop box, which we will probably use next week to start collaborating and planning our video project. The web conference also provided me with some guidance on how to finalize my first podcast.

EDLD 5363: Web Conference Reflection: Week 1

Although I have taken two previous courses that provided optional participation in web conferences I never attended a live conference. I always relied on the chat scripts and the available web conference recordings, to help me clarify any confusion and to correctly complete the weekly assignments. This was the first time I attended a live conference and I was not prepared for it, I did not know how exactly everything worked, I was not sure if I was going to be speaking, just listening, or having to type everything. I did not expect for everyone to be posting comments and questions almost simultaneously. I had already read all the assigned readings and had already started working on my personal video, but I felt that everyone else was miles ahead of me. I did not actively participate in most of the conference, I did ask a few questions, but I mostly depended on what the other classmates asked. I do feel that live web conferences can be very beneficial, specifically if you prepare a list of questions prior to the conference. Next time I attend a meeting, I’ll probably follow a prewritten question and comment list.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

EDLD 5363: Week 5 Collaboration Reflection

This is the first time that I work in an online collaboration project; all the group members in my team are amazing professional individuals with several levels of expertise. I consider myself extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to work and learn from every team member. Everyone was always willing to do more than what was required in order to create and perfect a remarkable core content student-centered video. We used several Google Tools to continuously communicate, collaborate, organize, and develop each weekly assignment requirement. Using Google Docs as a collaboration method proved to be an outstanding way to cooperate with individuals hundreds of miles apart. Exploring the simplicity of this collaboration tool has motivated me to incorporate and share this collaboration tool with my co-workers. The creation of Google Drive to facilitate the evaluation of uploaded video clips and audio files was also very useful during the development of our project. Everyone if the team had access and the ability to make modifications and revision to every file. Our team also utilized alternative communication methods such as emails and telephone calls, which helped clarify and further perfect our final project. We used Windows Movie Maker to produce our video, Audacity to record the audio files for the video voiceover, Creative Commons to copyright our video, and YouTube was the website selected to share our video. We decided to use a Creative Commons license to protects our video, the license safeguards our video from been utilized inadequately. We chose to provide potential viewers with the opportunity to copy, distribute and transmit our work, but they must meet the predetermined conditions of attribution, noncommercial, and they may not alter our video. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en_US One of the most difficult challenges that our team faced during the production of the video was meeting the time limit of 90 seconds. We had to modify and omit several narration parts, video clips, and stills from the original version. I learned that editing is vital during any video production; having a time limit helps video producer’s stay focus on identifying the most effective way to transmit a message that will not only communicate the desired information but will also implant long lasting impressions. This experience has provided me with tremendous insight of fundamental video production guidelines, tips, and extremely useful resources that will enable me to easily incorporate digital video production in the near future.

EDLD 5363: Week 5 THINK Video


Creative Commons License
THINK (Tutoring Helps Inspire New Knowledge) by L'BEAM Productions is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at http://youtu.be/Q1-sLYPGjUU.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

EDLD 5363: Week 4 Reflection



Team Collaboration:  
This week has been a little more challenging than last week; it has taken revision after revision of our first script draft. We are facing the challenge of what else can we omit from our script and video clips to meet the 90 second time limit. I never taught it would take so much time to revise and edit our proposed script. I think that the most difficult part of this week’s assignment is definitely the time limit, it is a challenge to present so much in such short amount of time. Team collaboration has been wonderful; everyday everyone has had tremendous input and incredible ideas on how to perfect the script, narration, and ultimately the video.
Readings:
This week’s readings were extremely informative; each section of the Audacity readings provided me with new information about recording and how to edit the recordings. The assigned reading about Guidelines for Shooting Quality Video was the one that I personally found more interesting because I really don’t know much about filming a video. I was glad to read the 10 shooting tips that were features in this set of guidelines. I really liked the way that each tip was presented and how I was provided with a reason for considering each of the tips during filming. I specifically liked the first and third tips “Avoid Zooming In and Out Too Much” and “Where Are You?” I had never considered what the viewer would experience while watching a video if the scene kept on transitioning with a zoom in or out effect, I also realized that “Where Are You?” effect during film is very powerful in communicating something to the viewer without having to state it in the film, a quick view of a specific landmark immediately provides the viewer with the ability to recognize where the film is taking place.
Audacity
Citation: Audacity. (n.d.) Introduction. 1(2). Retrieved April 21, 2009, from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/manual-1.2/intro.html
Guidelines for Shooting Quality Video
Citation: Desktop-Video-Guide. (n.d.) Guidelines for shooting quality video. Retrieved on April 22, 2009, from http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/shoot-video.html

Monday, December 10, 2012

EDLD 5363: Week 3 Reflection



This week was very stressful, having to change work habits was difficult. I’m enjoying working with all my colleagues, everyone is very knowledgeable in different areas and each one brings into the project different views, ideas, and experiences. Our group adopted the name of L’Beam Productions, and I personally think that it sounds like a real production company. We decided to write our script on math tutoring, our project name is THINK (Tutoring Helps Inspire New Knowledge). I’m really excited to see what our video will look like. I know that we still have a long way to see the end product, but little by little everything seems to be coming together. This week was dedicated to learning the correct way of writing and creating a script and a shot list/storyboard. All of the assigned readings were very enlightening; specifically the Success in the Planning CREATE, this simple guide clarified many of the predicaments I was facing. It started by clarifying the difference between a script and a storyboard, outlining the different things that should be considered during videotaping scenes. It also gave a concise description of types of camera shots and what could be accomplished when using them. I specifically liked and was able to start implementing the suggestions for creating a storyboard. It was very helpful to visit the resource links to supplement my knowledge on storyboard and template formats.       
Citation:
Center for Educational and Training Technology. (2006). Success is in the planning. Retrieved on April 9, 2009, from http://www.create.cett.msstate.edu/create/howto/Storyboard_Handout.pdf

Saturday, December 1, 2012

EDLD 5363: Week 2 Reflection



Creating my first Podcast Video was a challenge, I felt extremely overwhelm with all the available information. Every search yielded so many sample video tutorials on how to do endless things with Audacity and Windows Live Movie Maker. It was very simple to download all the required software to my PC, but once that was done I had no clue what to do with everything.
I really feel that all of this week readings where extremely useful in guiding and explaining what video editing is all about. The various YouTube Audacity Tutorial Videos that I watched also provided me with step-by-step guide as to how to use the program. I think that I felt overwhelmed because I was not sure how to merge my Window Live Movie Maker video with my Audacity audio recording. I was so glad to have finally figured it out, it was so simple and enlightening once I was finally done.
Using Creative Commons to copyright my podcast video was a great way to ensure that no one uses my work inappropriately. When I first visit their website I was also a little confused, because I was not completely sure as to what were the services that this organization provided. I had to visit and read several of the additional pages that were easily accessible within the same site. I think that the copyright services that this organization provides are extremely useful for any video developer.
I feel that this week I learned so much, not only by reading and watching all the videos, but also by all the trial and error practice that I had. I feel more comfortable using each of the programs correctly, and I’ve also learn that is better to keep on trying and failing than not trying at all.
I will definitely use these programs in the future, to improve my daily lessons and to facilitate and maximize student learning. I think that all students would benefit tremendously from having the access and knowledge of using all of these free programs.

EDLD 5363: My Podcast Video


Creative Commons License
My Podcast Video by Aleida Benavides-Meza is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at http://youtu.be/QmY0efi_KBU.