Editing Software reflections

As I looked through the free software editing programs listed in one of this week’s readings. I actually tried to download wave, but I really wouldn’t recommend it. My machine is about 3 years old, but it didn’t do well. Not only that, it came with something called “IncrediMail.” I hurriedly uninstalled it, but much to my surprise, wave didn’t download at all. That wasn’t good. I have decided to go with Windows Movie Maker I recommend it for three major reasons: it’s acceptable to TeacherTube, YouTube, and just about anywhere we have to post. Secondly, it’s really easy to edit, save and post. Since we’ve only got two minutes to do this podcast, it’s critical to get something easy to explain as well as use. Finally, it is already installed on most, if not all, computers purchased today. 

 

Additionally, students today do not have a long attention span, even with technology, and if something’s not easy, they’ll get disinterested and move on. Wave looked easy, but the other three besides the one I chose were not so simple. One of them even said “this is very detailed and complicated.” (desktop-video-guide.com)  Why use it for students if it’s complicated and we need it for a project? I mean, maybe with very technologically advanced or G/T students, but not with the typical, on the level student.

Windows Movie Maker is by far the best of the five free video editors, both for us as students and for our students. I'm a complete novice with editing software. This is something that is somehat similar to the project we undertook in Week 1 of Digital Graphics, and I got through that just fine. In some ways, Movie Maker and software just like it is very similar to Photoshop, in that users take already created works and edit them to fit whatever purpose they want or need. Many students know how to use photoshop, so I think they'll pick this up pretty quickly as well. I also think this is perfect for students because of three simple words: "drag and drop." 

 

Also, since most, if not all, new computers come equipped with Movie Maker, this means the students will have access to it without any additional cost to the school or school district.  With this free, open source software available to the students, there's no reason we as teachers shouldn't use it in the k-12 classroom.  As we have learned throughout the degree, technology excites students, makes learning and working fun, and prepares them to be successful digital citizens.  If we really want to introduce them to advanced technology tools such as editing and creating their own products, it should be with something free and easy.

 

We want students to be able to be able to access new material, and it should be easy.  If as teachers, we lead them to access new material, it needs to be easy, and close to something they've learned with before. (Garrison)   If we can relate it to something they've learned before or elarned with before, the students will be able to pick up the new information fairly quickly, which will excite and engage them even more than learning technology itself.

 

Desktop-video-guide (n.d.) Top 5 free video editing software programs.  Retrieved November 20, 2011 from http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/top-5-free-video-editing-software-review.html

 

Garrison, A. (1999 Winter) Video basics and production projects for the classroom. Center for Media Literacy. Retrieved November 20th, 2011 from http://www.medialit.org/reading-room/video-basics-and-production-projects-classroom