The Final Film

The Final

What an experience this has been-600 hours later. I have use so many of the tools in my project that we have investigated over the year. I have used many new online tools as well. With this said, I'm calling it quits on this video. This upload will be my last. I'm anxious to try other video projects and feel certain that many aspects will be simpler the second or third time around. I know I don't have a very artist eye because as I looked at other samples they almost have a professional feel to them. I know this is not me. Remember, I'm a squiggle!

Refined, A Little

Here, Let's Try This

DBE

DBE means disregard blatant errors! I have noticed the misspellings. I did notice that I forgot to lower the background music in the middle section. I did notice that some pages need re cropping. I did notice problems with text color, poor resolution. I do know that I haven't yet used any transitions but I couldn't wait to show this monstrosity to the world. There are a few things I like about it but not many. I keep reminding myself at this point it is the process not product that I'm learning from.

Oh, oh. oh -oh, oh omg!

Pangs of pride radiated through me as I successfully downloaded my circus music from ITunes. Not only have I set up an account this summer but have used it twice! Rambling to get my video open so I could insert my music, I could hardly wait. I remembered how easy it was in my year end video at school and was sure it would be a snap. Well, it wasn't a snap, or a snap crackle, or a snap, crackle, pop....it was a flop! But again I must say, "Boy, did I learn a lot! iTunes downloads in a format to be used on iPods, iPhones...not what I needed for Photostory 3. Hmmm! I searched for a conversion tool on my computer but no. After consulting with my sister and my daughter I found at least 2 ways to get my music converted. I ended up using Zamzar and found it quite user friendly. If I can do it anyone can. I must admit that my sister did rescue me when I converted to the wrong format and was about to collapse. It reminded me of a very bad Christmas light fiasco involving me and other sister. You know the point at which frustration, exhaustion and hunger make it impossible to continue with you plan? So anyway it is back to work. I'm determined to finish.

Hello!

I'm so glad the list of other birdwatchers is posted. I poked around yesterday to see how others were doing. I didn't actually find any finished projects but I did view some student samples of book trailers and realized that kids are much better at this than I. None the less I'm trudging ahead. This morning before church I refined the visual part of my video and some of the attached text. Just now I found and bought my circus music from iTunes and am anxious to put it all together. I'm hesitant to do the audio since I'm not that crazy about my voice. I'm thinking of asking someone to do it for me. We will see.

Coming Soon: Science Fair Kick-Off

Today I finished my text. I have some adjustments to make as evidenced in the preview. I have typed the narration in the recording boxes on each page and have to do the recording soon. I'm excited about finding music clips. I'm thinking of circus style music to start off with.

Still Undecided?

Yes. I have dropped in my photos and ordered them. I just wish I had done something with a smaller, more focused academic objective. I will follow through with this...I will. I will finish. I will finish. We are not graded on quality are we? Isn't this more about the process than the product, huh?

Progressing Nicely

Thanks to my sister, I now have my file marked, Website Images. She explained how to use the Print Screen and Paint Program to save and mark up full screen images. It is so easy! I know I have put in well over 6, 0r maybe even 60 hours on this project but I must say I'm learning a lot and generating a lot of questions as well. Now actually finishing and coming up with a final product still sit in limbo but I'm having a great time getting there.

Sneaking in the Back

I never do things the easiest way first, I must learn by frustration. So as I started to manipulate my images I found that I had just dumped them into a folder marked, sci images. I weeded through this mess of images to do my mosaics and then had to stop myself. Again, self analysis was needed. Maybe it was the slow Internet, the heat, the humidity, the hunger of the moment, who knows but whatever it was my mind said, "HALT." Why was I allowing myself to be frustrated, hot and irritated. So my mind said, "ORGANIZE!" So I did. I took a few minutes to subdivide my images into sub folders titled for the part of the video which they will be intended. I also found that i was needing a few more categories of images. I feel so much better. A clear path is just easier to follow.

Slower Than Expected

I began gathering images and thought that would be a snap. Knowing not to just take images, I went to Flickr Commons and found nothing that wasn't 50+ years old most from the National Archives. No offense, but I'm not making a silent movie. After a quick talk with a colleague, I went to Flcikr Creative Commons and had much more success in the image search but for some reason my computer or Internet service was SSSLLLOOOWWW! In frustration I shut down and came back later. In a matter of 45 minutes I collected many images I might be able to use and created 3 mosaics at BIGHUGELABS.com that I know I'll use. I also plan to put in a WORDLE or two. I'm not sure my order of operations is quite right but I think I'll get there. I keep thinking about some catchy, current tunes to play in the opening and background. Any suggestions? OMG: OH, Oh , oh oh, oh , Oh My Gosh! Hmmmm. No that wouldn't work although I found it quite funny when a 2 and 3 year old in the shopping cart were singing it and their mother ask me if it were inappropriate. My reply, "It is a catchy tune!"

Getting Down to Work

I have 2 scripts. Both in a question answer format for my video. I think I'll prepare the Science Fair Video first. I have prepared the script with each question being a frame or two. Now I need to compile a folder of images I want to use with each question. A few questions will just show a shot of my webpage on the school site. Some will show simply a required form but most will show either young scientists at work or dynamite projects. I think I'll start that collection of images now using some I have and some I'll borrow. Let you know how that is going later.

Evaluating Myself! Task 2

I can't believe that I learned so much on this task. I watched the Flash Presentation and did the Website Evaluation activity which was amazing. I must say I did a pretty good job of evaluating the websites given. Are kids doing this at school? I hope so. I watched the Youtube video which was clear and concise. I use a common science website, Chem4kids.com and first used the printable evaluation form but felt like a student would just sluff through it but the University Library Evaluation that you fill out and print was very user friendly for students, like myself. Let me stop and try one more. I used the Evaluation Wizard and think it is pretty good as well. As I'm learning more about using the Internet to research I still wonder if I know enough to guide others. I wonder if my students are learning this in their technology classes. Are these things most middle or high school students know and use? I think I sound ignorant for asking.

Accessing Information

Without a definite decision on topic I went ahead and looked at Task 1: Accessing Information. I started in each search engine with science fair topics, then science fair topics narrowed with no .com sites, the narrowed to 5th grade, then narrowed further to Earth Science. The greatest thing was to get rid of the .com sites that simply wanted to sell students a science kit or book to find a project. It was amazing how much easier it was just to sift through the edu, org, and net sites. With each qualifying word my result number became much simpler to handle. I found good ideas on Google, Bing, and then was very disappointed by Yahookids. I couldn't find a way to get rid of the .coms, tons of non=related topics were stirred in, it was just a mess. Then at Kidsclick.org I found peace. I used it this year and found it a little narrow at times but it was that very point that made it manageable for my students. I think someone said it is manage by school librarians or such but that could just be rumor. I got databases of topics that were actually very kid friendly. I wonder how this would pan out if I were looking for science fair research for a report rather than the topic itself?

Rereading

I keep rereading the instructions and watching the samples. I think I just need to make a decision! I think I might go with Science Fair because I would most likely use it and it is a huge obstacle for me. I suppose anything I can conjure up that could make the process simpler must be a must. I have access to most of the documents I have created here at home, the amount of information online is unlimited...Hmmm.

Another Idea

I was thinking. I just returned from a week at Coal Camp. I knew very little about what to expect because information, including course descriptions, pamphlets, and emails were very vague. Now after attending and armed with tons of information, I might make a movie about what to expect at coal camp. It could be used to clarify the experience for others who are thinking of attending, who by the way are teachers and graduate students. I think this might actually be my choice but let's see how I feel by the end of the day.

A Tentative Step

I'm not sure that I really can do this through to completion. I'm not sure that I want to. I have 2 ideas. The first is to use my pod casts of science songs that I already have and develop them into a music video to encourage students or perhaps teachers to use more music, poems, and chants in teaching and learning. Idea 2 is to come up with a way to ignite students in the area of science fair participation. It is a huge job for them and their teacher-me. Could I use such a product for topic generation or should it contain all areas required of them to the finished project? I almost think this idea might just be too big. Well the wheels are turning and I doubt I'll be able to stop them so I'll just take flight and see where I land.