ReReflection and Description

DESCRIPTION

When it comes to learning technology, I feel like a blank canvas. I watch others with sheer envy of what they can do with a workstation and an internet connection. I decided to make this video after watching to group presentations on the last day of Virtcamp. I wanted to attack something that I did not know and be able to demonstrate some level of proficiency with a technology to new me, without quitting.

I shot some short video clips with my camera and had some stock footage from our Secret Agent video. I used Windows Moviemaker as an editing tool, and just dove in. As I played, I found little tricks and even found some help in the help menu. I imported the clips from a file on the hard drive. Then I simply dragged the file that I wanted to work with to the storyboard at the bottom. There is a timeline that you adjust with the mouse. I then put transitions with text as a narrative in between. Again, very simple, just open the transitions, choose one, type in the text you want, and drag it onto the story board. You then adjust the timeline for the length you want it. I was also able to add a few scores of music to give it a little mood all with relative ease. The music is added the by the same process as the video clips: choose, drag, and adjust time.

When the video was finished, I did run into a little snag, however. When it came time to post my gift I tried to put it on my webpage, and I could not get it to work. I tried changing the format, but was unable to. I reached out to Brent, the technology cowboy. He suggested posting my video on YouTube and simply putting a link on my webpage. This was also something that I have never tinkered with before. After creating an account, you simply select “Upload a New Video“, type in a title and a brief description, then add any tag words that will help your video be categorized in searches. For example, I added Lego, sorter, brix, and virtcamp as tags. After that you click a “Browse” box to browse your computer for the video. The one frustration (and cause for worry) I did have was that it took about ten hours to show up on the site for the public. Once it did show up, I put a link directly to the video on the wiki page. The entire process including the learning curve took about 4 hours. If I were to do it again, knowing what I now know, would probably take less than an hour.

Reflection

This web gift was an intriguing idea for an assignment. I worked closely with Jacquie during VirtCamp and learned a great deal from her. I wanted to make her gift something special, and show especially her that I had made a stretch in my learning. Then I remembered something that Margaret said at VC that has really stuck with me. She said, “Friends are those people that carry your stories.” This brought to mind my friends from high school, who are still among my closest friends, and the bond we share. We remain connected and close, because of the experiences we had together and the memories we still talk about. I wanted Jacquie’s story of perseverance, motivation and celebration of victory to be carried by all of us, so I decided to make a very short video synopsis of our Lego project.

The video itself was very short, and the program, Windows Moviemaker, was simple to use after a little tinkering and play. In retrospect, I feel fortunate to have been away from an internet connection while working on the video. Otherwise, I would have reached out to my cadre mates or anyone with an ear and a clue, for help and not benefited from the useful frustration, and figured it out on my own. (I know that runs counter to the DL theory, but I have to get over being frustrated and quitting when I don’t get it right away). In the past I would have even simply given up entirely, after only a few attempts, when I had any problem or snag with technology or software. My stubbornness and foolish pride may have even prevented me from asking for help, I guess, for fear of embarrassment or shame of not knowing.

I will have to garner some fortitude for the future. I know that new and much bigger challenges, both technological and cognitive, are on the horizon. I do know that help is out there with my cadre. I am still working internally to develop a system of identifying when to figure it out and when to ask for help. I like the satisfaction of problem solving on my own, but I also realize that I do not have the luxury of unlimited time, as my partners are counting on me to step up and be a contributing member of the group.

In the end, the experience was very positive and rewarding. I did make a stretch, though small in retrospect, and figured out Windows Moviemaker. It is a simple program to use after a few tries. The learning however was deep. I was initially revisited by my fear of becoming frustrated or failing to produce at all. I am starting to become comfortable with the idea of trying and sticking with it. In addition, it was helpful to not be connected to the internet, as I would have put out a help call and waited for reinforcements to arrive. This way forced me to work through my struggles and figure it out. Overall I am pleased with the process of the product and will find time, in the near future, to improve on the product.