Reflection on Week 2 Web Conference EDLD 5363

I was glad to have the opportunity to attend the November 23, web conference. I found the discussion both oral and written to be very helpful. The directions on the assignment were a bit of an overload for a novice such as myself.  I had questions that I needed answered in the web conference. These questions were answered.  I learned from the web conference that I only need to make an audio podcast that gives directions as to how to use a video editing tool. The asssignment had a great deal of information on adding pictures, music and video which left me unclear if I could actually omit that in my podcast. I felt great relief that it only needs to be an audio podcast. I also now know that I need to find two more partners for next week and the recommended method is to use the discussion board. That is my next focus as week 2 ends. I would like to start week 3 with a group of four already in place.

The creation of my podcast went really well. It was the first time that I used audacity and Windows Live Movie Maker. The fact that there were no pictures to add made it much easier than the week 1 assignment. However, it seems that audio directions for a video maker is not an effective way to give directions, at least not in my opinion. As I was learning Windows Movie Maker and Audacity I viewed many video tutorials and the best part was that they were visual and I could pause on them and still see what I needed to do. When it is just audio you can't pause and still "see" the directions. I learned after I completed my podcast that I could have had music in the background if I had put that into Audacity with my audio narration. I did not realize I could do that when I created the podcast.

Reflections on Week 1 Web Conference for 5363

Today I was completely overwhelmed as I read the assignment for the week. I knew that I have no experience making a movie on the software recommended. As a matter of fact the only thing similar is the Animoto I created in EDLD 5306. That was not nearly as detailed as this will be and I won't be able to use Animoto to create this presentation. So with heavy heart, I entered tonight's web conference  unsure of how to get a partner to work with and how to share information with my partner, and with no experience of using Windows Live Movie Maker. Dr. Abernathy answered my questions by explaining to us that we had to select our own partners by  using the discussion board or asking someone on the web conference chat section. I was delighted when Suzie asked if I would like to be her partner. That was my first sigh of relief. Next, Dr. Abernathey explained how to use Google docs to be able to share with our partners and to edit their work and offer comments. By the conclusion of the web conference some of my confidence returned and I am now looking forward to the process of creating a personal video story. I still have many questions, and I miss having a person sitting next to me working with me to create a video...but that is the new world we live in!