Software Evaluation: Windows Live Movie Maker 2011

                I was impressed with Windows Live Movie Maker 2011.  I have never made or edited a video before, so this was a new experience for me.  I compared Movie Maker on my home computer which uses Windows XP and my school computer which uses Windows 7.  I found the new version of Movie Maker for Windows 7 to be more user-friendly.  I especially like the storyboard that allows you to easily drag frames to the correct sequence.  I also found the trim and split tool under the Edit tab very easy to use in order to trim excess video footage and to split frames so they could be separated on the storyboard.  I found that the options and tools allowed me to easily carry out the four functions of editing which are “to connect shots into a sequence that tells a story or records an event, to correct and delete mistakes, to condense or expand time, and to communicate an aesthetic” (Lonnquist, 1994, 1). 

                I can see many uses for Windows Movie Maker in the world of education.  Personally, I will be able to use it to create videos to be viewed by my students or to be posted to my blog or wiki and viewed by other educators.  I can also incorporate Windows Movie Maker  into my assignments and allow my students to use this software to create projects that correspond with my curriculum.

Lonnquist, J. (1994, November). The art of the edit. Videomaker. Retrieved on April 6, 2009,

from http://www.videomaker.com/article/1691/

EDLD 5363 Week 2 Web Conference Reflection

     I found the web conference to be very valuable.  We discussed how to use Audacity and the purpose of downloading LAME.  Several people were confused about what the topic should be for our mp3 file and people were also confused about whether or not to turn in the video they edited for practice.  Through the web conference, I was able to clarify this week's assignment and also was able to clarify the Public Service Announcement project. Dr. Abernathy said that our PSA should include footage filmed with a camcorder and also voice-over narration.
     Web conferences allow an online class to have a lot of the same advantages of a class that meets face-to-face, such as getting immediate feedback from the instructor and getting to interact with other students in the class.  I also find it very helpful to listen to my fellow classmates' questions.  Sometimes, through hearing their questions, I realize that I did not understand something.  Overall, the experience of the web conference is helpful to clear up confusion and to create a more personal atmosphere in an online class.

Digital Story Reflection

     I used Windows Photo Story 3 to create my digital story.  It was my first time to use this type of software; I really liked using it, especially considering it's free.  I found it to be very user friendly and I think middle school and high school students would be able to easily use it in the classroom to create their own videos.  Creating videos would be a way to motivate students and also incorporate technology into the curriculum.  After using Windows Photo Story 3, I prefer it over PowerPoint and other video softwares I have used.