Spanish-American Institute

985 Using Windows Movie Maker 80 classes

Prerequisite(s): None.

Textbooks: Jan Ozer, Microsoft Windows Movie Maker 2. Peachpit Press, 2004 (or comparable text).

Course Description: While developing English language skills, this course introduces students to Windows Movie Maker. Students will learn how to create movies on the computer using a variety of media and to output their movies to tape or disk, send them via e-mail, or post them to a web site.

Objectives: By the end of the course, students should be able:

to read about video editing software and Movie Maker and understand what is being discussed or described;
to read and follow directions when practicing textbook exercises;
to read documents and descriptions of situations and decide how to use Movie Maker applications to design, develop, and customize video compositions;
to ask questions in English concerning concepts and implementation;
to write simple explanations of procedures used or results obtained;
to explain the design and content of Movie Maker presentations; and
to understand the basics of gathering video assets; of trimming and organizing them; of garnishing them with title tracks, special effects, and transitions; of using AutoMovie to create stand-alone movies; and of outputting their created videos to tape or disk, e-mail, or the Web.

Instructional Methods: Classes include language development and critical thinking sessions followed by hands-on practice and drills. Students will complete periodic summary exercises that require application of all skills learned to date. Each student will create, develop, and output a video production and share it with other students, according to guidelines provided by the instructor.

Grading: The final grade is based on the following:

Class Participation	25%
Assignments	50%
Exams	25%
Total	100%

The grading scale is: A=90-100%, B+=85-89%, B=80-84%, C+=75-79%, C=70-74%, D=65-69%, F=60-64%

Course Outline: MM=Movie Maker

Week

Topics

Assignments and Tests

Introduction to Movie Maker.

Mapping the text and course: introduction to the course and the book, including learning aids.

Weekly vocabulary log guidelines: write two complete sentences for each word, one that describes its meaning and one that gives an example of its use.

Basics: concepts and terminology; hardware and software requirements; guidelines for creating “watchable” videos; understanding continuity; importance of developing shot composition and video editing skills.

Vocabulary log.

Using the “Definitions 101” list on p. 18, write a sentence in which you explain each term in your own words.

Read Chapters 1-2.

Name at least three characteristics of “watchable” video. Explain why they are important.

Explain the importance of “continuity” in creating “watchable” video.

Getting Started with Movie Maker.

Understanding the Movie Maker interface and exploring the Movie Maker toolbar.

Creating and managing collections.

Customizing collections, collection views, and Movie Maker panes.

Setting project defaults.

Vocabulary log.

Read Chapter 3.

Do hands-on activities on pp. 57-72.

Start thinking about the movie you think you might want to create for your course final production movie project.

Write a short description about what you think you might want to do.

You can change your mind later.
Your instructor will provide guidelines for the final project.
You should be prepared to define your final project at the end of week 7.

Capturing Digital Video.

Digital capture format strategies.

Using the Capture from Video Device tool to capture entire digital videos, parts of videos, or video clips.

Viewing captured digital video.

Read Chapter 4.

Do hands-on activities on pp. 80-86.

Make a short oral presentation to your instructor and at least one other student explaining what you did and how you might use captured digital video in your final movie project.

Working With Still Images.

Building digital image slide shows

Capturing still images from captured video using the Contents Pane.

Scanning traditional photographs.

Editing still images.

Understanding deinterlacing.

Read Chapter 5.

Do hands-on exercises on pp. 108-118.

Write a summary of what you did, including the materials you used, in capturing and editing still images. Include a description of how you might use captured analog video in your final production movie project.

Importing Music.

Importing music from CDs, cassettes, and records into a digital file.

Ripping audio tracks.

Reviewing and optimizing audio track.

Read Chapter 6.

Do hands-on activities, pp. 120-124..

Write a summary of what you did, including the materials you used, in capturing and optimizing music. Include a description of how you might use imported music tracks in your final movie project.

Working in the Contents Pane.

Using the Contents Pane to store assets.

Creating clips in video files and viewing them in the Contents Pane.

Working with audio and video in the Contents Pane.

Combining, deleting, cutting, copying, and pasting clips in the Contents Pane.

Relinking lost clips.

Read Chapter 8. Pay particular attention to “What to Leave in, What to Leave Out,” on p. 141.

Do the activities on pp. 136-147.

By now, you know how to collect a variety of assets that can be used to make a movie, including digital video, analog video, still images, and music.

This week you learned how to collect and store assets in the Contents Pane. From this point forward, you will start collecting assets for your final production video and storing them in the Contents Pane. This is a good moment to review the syllabus for rest of the course. In the following weeks, you will learn how to edit your material to shape your assets into a movie.

Write a paragraph or more describing the theme of your final movie production project. Include a description of the digital video, analog video, still images, and music you plan to use.

7-8

Trimming and Assembling Your Movie.

Understanding editing--the difference between a collection of files and a final cohesive production.

Understanding Storyboard and Timelines window.

Saving your project.

Working on the Storyboard.

Getting video clips on the Timeline.

Customizing your Timeline view.

Trimming clips on the Timeline.

Planning your Timeline activities.

Advanced Timeline editing.

Editing still images.

Working with audio files.

Read Chapter 9. Pay particular attention to “Planning Your Trimming Activities” and “Trimming Precautions” on pp. 177-179.

Do all hand-on activities on pp. 152-195, using the materials you plan to incorporate into your final production movie.

Each week, write a summary of what you have accomplished during the past week. Include a statement about any area where you think you will need more assistance.

Using Transitions.

Understanding and appreciating transitions.

Transitions in the Storyboard and in Timeline view.

Using and customizing transitions.

Inserting multiple transitions in a slide show.

Read Chapter 10. Pay particular attention to the sections, “A little goes a long way,” “Keep it motivated,” and “Like meets like” on pp. 199-201.

Do all activities, pp. 205-220.

Apply what you have learned to your project production video.

Pair or small group work: show all or some of your production to date to one or more other students and ask for their feedback. Then write a short summary of how you plan to use their feedback to improve your production.

Applying Special Effects.

Understanding how filters can fix underlying problems or enhance the visual production.

Curative, fade, motion, film, rotation, speed, and other artistic effects, using Movie Maker’s effects interface.

Read Chapter 11.

Do all hands-on activities.

Apply what you have learned to your project production video.

Working with Audio.

Understanding why audio is as important as the visual presentation.

Learning how to work around Movie Maker’s two audio tracks.

Recording narration.

Adjusting audio volume.

Read Chapter 12.

Do all hands-on activities.

Apply what you have learned to your project production video.

Designing Titles and Credits.

Title options and track types.

Creating titles. Title animation options.

Customizing text.

Editing titles.

Enhancing visual appeal of titles using Microsoft’s Creativity Fun Pack.

Combining titles.

Read Chapter 13.

Do all hands-on activities.

Apply what you have learned to your project production video.

Working with AutoMovie.

Understanding the difference between AutoMovie and Movie Maker.

Choosing an AutoMovie editing style.

Creating you final production project in AutoMovie.

Read Chapter 14.

Do all hands-on activities.

Warning: Keep a separate file of your production video work to date. For this assignment, you will assemble your production video using AutoMovie. Compare the production video using AutoMovie to the one you have been producing. In writing, describe which one you believe is better. Why? What improvements, if any, will you make to your production using Movie Maker, based on what you learned from the version produced by AutoMovie?

Output: Writing to Tape and Outputting Digital Files.

Writing your production to tape.

Dubbing from DV to VHS.

Saving to My Computer.

Saving to CD.

Sending your video in e-mail.

Saving to a video-hosting provider.

Read Chapters 15 and 16.

Do all hands-on activities.

Pair or small group work: show all or some of your production to one or more other students and ask for their feedback. Then write a short summary of how you plan to use their feedback to improve your final production

15-16

Final exam.

Video presentations.

Students will finalize their finished video productions and present them to a student audience. They will introduce their productions to the audience, according to guidelines provided by the instructor.

2/05, rev. 2/07