Reflections on Multimedia Tools

Chapter 11-Multimedia Tools

After reading Blanche W. O’Bannon and Kathleen Puckett’s Chapter 11-Multimedia Tools from the book “Preparing to use Technology”, one verse that kept on resonating in my head was“ time to orient self with” learning the available features of the software. When we think about it this is what our students need to connect the old information with the new information and create a schematic folder for new learning. Time to orient themselves…Three new bits of information that was learned after reading about Multimedia tools was the fonts to use in text, the 10% rule of copyright, and the steps to make a digital story and podcasts.

The text or printed information should be clear for a typeface that has a good readability level. Some fonts that were suggested was San serif - Arial and Verdana. Safe and ethical use of digital information was discussed and the 10% rule was something that I never heard of. The following is the 10% rule for copyright information.

1. Text -10% or 1000 words

2. Illustrations and photographs- 10% or 15 images

3. Music – 10% or 30 seconds

4. Video – 10% or 3 minutes (whichever is less)

The Center of Digital Storytelling (DS) in Berkeley, California (www.storycenter.org/index1.html) has deemed there are seven elements for digital storytelling. Digital storytelling are narratives that are mixed with still images, video, music, or audio narration of the author’s voice. The seven elements of storytelling are:

1. 1.Point of view

2. 2. Dramatic question

3. 3. Emotional content

4. 4. Gift of your voice

5. 5. Power of the soundtrack or music

6. 6. Economy-enough information to tell story

7. 7. Pacing-rhythm of the story

Alan Levine offers “The Fifty Tools for Telling a Story” at http://cogdogroo.wikispaces.com/storytools

Steps to create a digital story

1. 1. Get ready-take some time to orientate self to learn about available tools-OK! Hee, hee.

2. 2. Locate the media-organize a folder for resources on the topic

3. 3. Select the media-select images, audio, and content for the creation of the story

4. 4. Write the script-determine the point of view and content that should guide narration

5. 5. Record the script

6. 6. Import the media-using the software I movie or Photo story

7. 7. Preview your movie and upload to the web

Podcasts were named by using a portmanteau - using the words IPod and broadcast. Using podcasts gives individuals the opportunity to create digital audio on a variety of subjects.

Steps to Create a Podcast:

1. 1. Plan the podcast

2. 2. Record and edit: Audio

3. 3. Create an MP3 File

4. 4. Upload to the Web

I II wish I had too much “time on my hands” that I could orientate myself to learn the available features on digital stories and podcast software programs. This weekend I did spent some time orienting myself to Google Site and Wikispaces for my final project on, “What Do Readers Do?” I hope time goes slow so I can become familiar with the terminology and navigation through making a web or a wiki.

O, Blanche, and Kathleen Puckett. Preparing to Use Technology. 2nd ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 2009.(O and Pucket, ch. 11,pg.225-247.) Print.