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At 6:48pm on February 8, 2008, Anne Mirtschin said…: Hi Merri, thank you for that feedback and I have been down your track as well. Last year, I spent 6 months fathoming all this out, although we had used vegas quite a bit. Then I wanted to get it all online in the form of enhanced podcasts which I did through podomatic and then finally used teachertube as well. What do you use to host your video sites? Delete Comment

At 5:13am on February 1, 2008, Anne Mirtschin said…: No, Merri you are right about two tracks with Moviemaker. There is only one so it is back to audacity if you want to combine tracks. Our school bought Sony Vegas Movie Studio and has a license for 25 computers so we use that when we want a really professional finish in combining all the media. We also have Sony Acid which will mix audio and is superior to audacity. However, audacity is free and kids still enjoy using it. Photostory is just so quick and easy to put something together that looks professional. Keep in touch cos I spent a lot of time last year making podcasts and vidcasts and have experienced everything that could possibly go wrong but in the end we won.

At 3:48am on January 31, 2008, Anne Mirtschin said…: Hi Meri Did you solve your volume problem? We have great difficulty getting the balance right as well. If you goto the screen where you add sound, drag that volume bar nearly back to the beginning and you can usually just hear the background music but the voiceover is clear.
Otherwise we sometimes use audacity for windows machines, record the voice, import the music, adjust volume levels and import that into Photostory. Audacity is a free download but some of the background music loops that come with Photostory are so good and I dont know if you can grab them out and put them into audacity. All the best with it.

At 9:10pm on January 30, 2008, Paul Hardt said…: Meri,
Thank you for your patience with my response. I had quite a few deadlines recently. Now I must tell you how important your comments were to the students involved in the videos from which you graciously commented. Specifically, the comments regarding the history video of our town, Algonquin, Illinois. An emotion evoked mental imagery and a desire to want to visit or live in our little river valley town here in the midwest of the USA. YOU R COMMENTS: “Makes me want to live in Algonquin. Makes me glad to be alive...Makes me remember my favorite teacher of all - who was my 5th grade teacher - who understood engaged learning back in the 1950s and brought authors into our classroom to engage us in the reality of writing.” I only wish you could have been here to see the response from the students. Genuine, real and passionate. We looked back at what we created, and discussed why and how we were able to generate such a real and human response from a complete stranger.

Because of you, these kids are brainstorming, and outlining more meaningful content. There are doing this independently from me. Which just goes to show that our passions drive us and we learn from the successes and failures. But we all DO NEED INPUT. A community of learners no matter what age makes us learn, dream and explore our passions. It doesn’t always work with every class, but my experience is that all groups of learners will evolve eventually on their own if I point them in the right direction and give them the tools to create. Each child performs as a part of the team, providing their own unique valuable contribution to our shows. These are not people filling purposeless jobs, but rather jobs that meet the needs of students of varying levels of learning. As I said before the sustaining new variable has been response from individual throughout the world. It’s not the glory, or the ego, but rather just knowing that it is possible that the world is watching keeps the fire burning. My students see me learning as well. -And I get so excited about tech innovations, it just seems to transfer to some of them.

I’ll post last Monday’s final GME show soon. It’s kind of a retrospective fun quiz.

When you asked how I get my administration to let me work this way, I chuckled. When I was in my 20’s, I used tech and video and people saw it as “playtime.” In my 30’s and 40’s my students began to excel in academic testing and overall behavior. Now in my 50’s administrators and education gurus now come and asked me I do what I do in the classroom. This is where you and I connect. Life is an experience. Use it. Use ALL of it. I too, love to write as well. I can’t stop. Also I create digital content and edit constantly, I can’t stop that either. Why? Besides an very understanding wife and children, I believe if you can connect learning, discovering, and the arts. It will evoke an genuine emotion. Besides posting some of the student work to the internet this year. I have produced 2 hours of weekly programming on local origination television since 1987. Okay I’m stopping here or I’ll ramble forever.

I only wish we could work together. Think of the possibilities.

Bless you for sharing the passion.
Hey, ain’t life great??

Paul

At 9:01pm on January 23, 2008, Paul Hardt said…: Each year, where I start with the weekly Good Morning Eastview show is without technology or media but in building "the team". Once the team is in place, there are no barriers between learning styles, culture, or gender. It's VERY rewarding when it comes together. Sometimes it takes awhile, but in the end, the students bond like a family.