EDLD+5363-+Course+Reflections

 **Kimberly Irwin ET-8003**  For EDLD 5363, I thought we would learn tips on videoing, as well as learn some video editing software. I was relieved when the first assignment was in Photo Story because I was comfortable with this and had taught it. However, I learned quite a bit about myself, my priorities and what matters most to me. I also enjoyed the week two assignment because I have done some work in Movie Maker. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it to be possible to collaborate and create a Public Service Announcement between four people over the internet. This course was so much broader than what I had expected and anticipated. I really appreciated the detail of the learning from camera angles and types of shots. I do have a video camera and feel like I truly know the best way and some new creative ways of capturing video. I appreciated learning the importance of storyboards.
 * 1.**  **What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?**

Having used Photo Story and Movie Maker before, I never considered the importance of the storyboard, which is ridiculous when as an educator I know the importance of pre-writing. A storyboard is the most crucial part of good video. I believe that the outcomes I achieved in this course are far greater than what I initially envisioned. I was able to create a PSA that I take pride in and rely on group members to all do their part to produce quality work. I learned new levels and depths of equipment and steps to producing quality video.  **2.**  ** To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not? ** I have seen several of my students throughout this course and have asked them if they are taking any of my courses next year. I am so excited about what I have learned; I want to make sure that none of our students miss out on this technology opportunity. From the beginning of this class, I made notes of what new things I have learned and want to implement in my curriculum next year. I have been a pain to several of my coworkers, stopping them on the street or in the grocery story giving them ideas for their classes next year and how we can collaborate together. I think having my students create a PSA is an incredible teaching opportunity. I feel like I have so much more knowledge in regards to the preparation of creating a video and the importance of that before doing any capturing and editing.

I will be better at teaching the appropriate steps to quality video production from the pre-production stages to the post-production stages. I feel like I can teach them about camera angles and shot selection, as well as sound editing. I look forward to helping my students pick apart a video idea and take them through the appropriate steps and stages before they choose the best way to view their video on the web.

** 3. ** **What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?** I was frustrated that I was never able to join one of the online web conferences. The morning of the first one, I went into the Webinar room because Dr. Abernathy had it open and was practicing and setting it up. However, when I went to join later, I got a message stating that it had ended, but I was logging in thirty minutes early. Then, as ironic as it sounds, ever other web conference that was available was at a direct conflict with an event for one of my three children. I really feel like I missed a great opportunity. Also, because I didn’t do any of the editing for our PSA, I don’t feel like I learned Audacity as well. I did download and install the program and practiced with several other videos, but I need to continue practicing and learning it before implementing it in my classroom. I appreciate the idea of a group assignment and using different methods of collaboration such as email, wikis, google docs, etc., but I wish I could have created my own PSA so I could have worked with the sound editing. Also, I am still not completely sure I understand copyright attributions and what that entails. I feel like I need to study some more on this subject to gain a better understanding so that I can teach my students.

** 4. ** **Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?** I was able to complete all my course assignments. The Photo Story came easy to me, after I spent a few days pondering what I wanted to say. I loved the video editing assignment in Movie Maker. I had so much fun editing video clips and sound. As for the PSA, I was very nervous because my family and I were gone for a single week on vacation, and this was during week three when we were to do the pre-production work on our PSA. Fortunately, I took my laptop so that I could keep in contact with my group. I jumped in and created the first Google document with a script that went with our theme because I didn’t want them to think I wasn’t pulling my weight because I wouldn’t always be available to the group.

My wiki is now complete with all the required pages; however, I didn’t realize each video had to be on a new page until week five. When I posted my week two assignment with the video I put it on the same page as my Photo Story. I hope my academic coach can find it when she grades my week two assignment. **5. ** <span style="font-style: normal; font-family: Arial; color: windowtext; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; msobidifontsize: 11.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Arial;">** What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes? ** I have received so much more from this class than any of the others I have previously taken. From a personal stand point, I pride myself on taking family video, but until now never truly took the time to learn, study, and practice how to capture quality video. I can say without a shadow of a doubt the video editing I do this summer on all my personal home videos will be ten times greater than those I have done in the past.

Not only do I know more about capturing, but editing and adding better sound and narration, as well. My group did always site our sources when we were using a wiki to collaborate our video and images. I feel like I am learning more about copyright attributions because of my group members. We did license our PSA under the "Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike License" and identified this in the credits of our video, as well as list our works sited for the still images we used. I am very much a “do-it-myself” kind of girl. I don’t like giving the power of something up when it will have a direct reflection on me. I have learned the value of teamwork and I am proud of the work my wonderful team did for our PSA. I got the ball rolling with our PSA, but when Stephanie took on the role of group leader, I sat back and willingly did what was asked. This taught me patience, as well as faith in the work of others and their abilities.