PSA Reflection

The public service announcement assignment was very interesting. I learned a lot about video editing, planning, producing and evaluating. I also enjoyed working in a group because we learned a lot from each other. Randy Nelson’s quote, “How do I plus this” reminds me that we all had many different talents and each one of us brought something new to our group. We all collaborated very well and worked together as a team. We didn’t encounter any problems during the pre, production, and post process for our public service announcement.

I also learned a lot from my colleagues from the discussion board about video editing and evaluation programs and from the weekly readings. I learned how to take different shots and angles, edit video clips and add music and audio.

I will hope to use what I learned about video editing and public service announcements in my classroom. I would love to have my students create, produce, plan, edit and evaluate their own public service announcement about an important or interesting topic or subject. I think they would enjoy learning and understanding how to create a public service announcement as well as learning how to edit the video using free video editing software programs. I already have some ideas or assignments for the students to begin working on.

Again, I enjoyed the class and learned a lot and I now feel confident enough to produce a public service announcement (PSA) as well as editing the video for the PSA. I look forward to utilizing what I used in this course in my classroom.

Nelson, R. (2008). Learning and working in the collaborative age: A new model for the workplace. Edutopia. Retrieved April 23, 2009, from http://www.edutopia.org/randy-nelson-school-to-career-video.

Stand Up to Cyberbullying PSA VIDEO

Also see my wikispace at http://connect2tech.wikispaces.com

PSA POST PRODUCTION BLOG

The pre production process for the Public Service Announcement was great because my group members and I collaborated a lot and discussed who would do what and gave specific deadlines. The pre production part was fairly easy to work with because our group brainstormed and everyone was on the same page after we decided what our Public Service Announcement would be about, therefore making it easier for the next steps in the production process. The production process was a little challenging because I was the person taking video shots. I had to find teenagers to video shoot; fortunately, I have two teenagers and my niece. Making the video shots were a little challenging also because the teenagers were very busy so I had to shoot them very quick and on their schedules. The post production seemed to run smoothly because Gail Dunn was awesome editing the video and putting the video together, Janet and Prissy also worked hard with the editing as well.

Our group did an excellent job in putting everything together for the Cyber bullying Public Service Announcement. I was very impressed that we managed to get everything together before the actual due date. The one thing that I think needed room for improvement would have been to have better shots of the teenagers and the audio of the teen’s speaking clearly. This was my first time trying to take different shots and angles in a video, but after taking this course, I think I could do a better job if I had to create another video.

Overall, our group worked collaborated with no problems and we encouraged and helped one another with this assignment. I definitely believe the quote, "Make your partner look good." This is definitely true. I would love to work with Prissy, Gail and Janet again. We had great teamwork. Although, we didn’t see or meet with each other due to our locations, we collaborated very well via email, phone and the wiki space.

Nelson, R. (2008). Learning and working in the collaborative age:A new model for the workplace.Edutopia. Retrieved September 26, 2010, from http://www.edutopia.org/randy-nelson-school-to-career-video.

Sunday, September 26, 2010 Web Conference Blog

I attempted to join the September 26, 2010 5:00 pm web conference today from 4:50pm to 5:45pm, but I tried several times to join and I kept getting the message that the meeting has not yet started. You will be able to access the meeting once the host arrives. Please wait.

I reviewed the September 25, 2010 11:00am web conference transcript since I couldn’t get into the web conference today. Dr. Abernathy said that she didn’t have a camera or microphone, so everyone chatted. The meeting seemed very short and there was a lot of chatting with each other in between the questions being asked to Dr. Abernathy. Dr. Abernathy managed to answer all of the questions. She stated clarification about what needed to be turned in and when, what and where assignments and video needed to be turned in.

I really hate that I couldn’t get into the web conference today, but I think most of the questions that were asked in the web conference helped me gain the knowledge that I needed to turn in my last assignment. I am not sure what happened and why I was not able to get into the web conference, but I was not the only one because one of my group members emailed me and said that she couldn’t get in also. She was getting the same message.

WEB CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE

I was on the Friday, September 17th web conference at 5:00 pm. Again, the web conference was full like the last web conference I attended. I received a lot of information and clarification about this week's assignment. This web conference was interesting. I learned that my group needed to have two or more narrators. I also learned about Project Share and I just found out that my school district uses Project Share.

The audio was going in and out but after chatting back and forth for a while we got the audio back and we were able to hear Dr. Abernathy. She answered everyone's questions and she made sure that she answered everyone's questions. She is very understanding and she makes sure everyone is on the same accord and understands what is going on with the course and weekly assignments.

Overall, this web conference was a good. I enjoyed the web conference because for some reason this one was very informative and I was able to hear Dr. Abernathy speak, where as most of the time we have audio issues.

Evaluating Video Editing Software

The two video editing software programs that I evaluated were Apple (MAC) iMovie and Microsoft Windows Movie Maker. I have used both video editing software programs. Movie Maker is a Windows video software program and iMovie is a Mac video software program. I did not find a video from the internet to use to edit. I used the videos that I created in both iMovie and Movie Maker. I created my parent's 50th anniversary video in Movie Maker and I edited pictures, music and transitions. It was very easy to edit and move clips and music. It was also easy to drop and drag clips, music selections, transitions and effects. iMovie was very similar to Movie Maker because of the dropping and dragging of clips and transitions. Audio and music was a little different. Music had to be clicked and clipped into the entire surrounding of the videos or pictures. The audio had to be recorded through a microphone. The editing of the recording was easy to work with also. iMovie was basically, clicking and unclicking clips and audio. I used an iMovie video that I created for my friend's daughter's graduation, so I used that video to edit.

Next, I attempted to convert the video editing software programs. I found three free video Mac converters: Prism video converter software (http://www.nchsoftware.com/prism/index.html), Kigo Video converter (www.kigoconverter.com), and Miro video converter (mirovideoconverter.com). All seem very usually friendly and used the following file extensions to convert the videos: mpefg, .avi, .mpeg, .wma, .wav, .mp3, .jpeg, .wmf., and .wmv. The windows free editing software that I chose are: Video Pad editor software program (nchsoftware.com/videopad/index.html.), AVS video editor (www.avs4you.com/AVS-video-editor.aspx) and Smilebox (smilebox.com). I looked at three and smilebox was very easy to use and the conversion was easy. The other two were fairly easy to edit and convert the videos as well.

I have learned how to use the free software editing programs and learned how to convert file extensions using Movie Maker and iMovie video software programs. After completing this assignment, I feel very comfortable using the free editing software programs. I have prior knowledge of using Movie Maker and iMovie software programs, but I am learning how to use other features as well as the basic features and functions after this assignment. I do believe that "Microsoft Movie Maker for Windows users, and Apple iMovie for MAC users are probably the two easiest to use free video editing software programs available." (2010).

Top 5 Free Video Editing Software Programs. (2010). Retrieved September 2, 2010, from Desktop-Video-Guide.com website: http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/top-5-free-video-editing-software-review.html

Web Conference Experience

I was on the Thursday, August 26, 2010 web conference at 6 pm. There were over 30 people on the web conference. Everyone was not able to be on the web cam and the audio was not working due to the large number of people that were invited to the web conference that evening. Dr. Abernathy explained to everyone by way of chatting that she accidentally accepted to many students and that was the cause of the problem with the audio and video.

In the past, I have enjoyed the web conferences even when we were faced with the same problem with the audio and video but it was not as overwhelming as the web conference on August 26^th. Everyone was chatting at the same time but Dr. Abernathy managed to answer all questions in spite of the situation.

Overall, I enjoy the web conferences because we acquire very informative and helpful information about our courses and internship course. I will continue participating in the web conferences. The web conferences are also helpful in putting our colleagues’ faces with the names that we see each week on the discussion board. My hats off to Dr. Abernathy, she does a great job with spearheading the web conferences and answering all of our questions!