Thursday 10 July 2008

20 week blogger part II

Well that was fun, not - discussed the future of our class whipping up enthusiasm - using e-learning - films/ppts etc for interacting with masses only to find that the Library concerned doesn't have Windows Movie Maker on their PCs - so hold your horses!! I will contact the Library concerned but might have to be reduced to using a Laptop from ADED please for the students to use with memory sticks.

Anyone else disappointed and surprised at the lack of software at our libraries?

6 comments:

Gill said...

That's most disappointing Jane. I wonder, however, if the program is there but buried in the amongst so many other software. It comes as standard with Windows I believe and I certainly had trouble locating it when I first looked for it on my home PC.

I found it (eventually) lurking in the CD and DVD authoring part of the start menu. Might be worth taking another look before giving up.

Failing that, then yes, the AdEd Laptops might well be the best answer.

Sorry to read of your frustration and hope to find a way out of it!

lizzie g said...

I really hope you have some joy with this Jane, I've used Movie Maker a few times now, I've found it quite straight forward to use, and I'm sure you have more experience than me! I've shown a couple of videos in the classroom and learners have enjoyed seeing short films I've made of their work and of them working. It's proving to be an excellent tool for helping to build confidence, as well as providing evidence of learning.
Good luck!

Jane CD said...

Am delighted to see that you have got to grips with blogging. Any joy with finding MovieMaker at the library yet? I will try to follow up here with Library Team.

Anonymous said...

If you don't have any luck with Movie Maker in the short term, you could always try Microsoft PhotoStory. Yes, I know it only uses still photos but if you use the "transitions" cleverly the pictures do appear to move! PhotoStory is free to download from the Microsoft website; hopefully your library service will permit this.....?!

lizzie g said...

I made a couple of short videos using Movie Maker yesterday evening, they were of my learners demonstrating their skills at the end of the course. I'm pleased with them, both the videos and the learners' achievements!

I tried to send one to the Blog, the AdEd laptop I have won't allow internet access so I copied the movies onto my memory stick and uploaded it onto my own (older) laptop, which I use for internet access and most of the time. Unfortunately my laptop doesn't like the movie, it won't play it, in place if the clips are great ugly red crosses!

Is there any advice out there? I guess the AdEd laptop needs to allow internet access for me to be able to blog these videos.

I'll get some DVDs to see if I can copy them to send them to Lydbrook Community Centre - they fund the enrolment, transport and materials for the course that these videos are from. I'll be able to show them to the learners at the beginning of next term on the laptop.

Is there any progress with finding out how to show videos made with Movie Maker through the projector?

Thank you.

jane e said...

Re Lizzie's comment on the red crosses, I did a practice movie yesterday, saved it and then when showing off my new skills to my husband had dirty red crosses (nearly as red as my face!). This morning I saved the pictures I was using from the Camera to my PC and saved again. It worked this time. I am about to save the movie on a memory stick to show my class tonight - so I will try that and see if the pictures again also have to be saved on the memory stick as well before it works. The programme seems to go hunting to verify the pictures before it lets you run it. I will report back. Thanks to all for all your comments. Fun isnt it!!

To Gill - the software had been taken off at the library, for some reason - so we have arranged to have put on all the PCs for tonight - so we shall see.