There are three things we would like to point out:
1. Technologies to record videos: There are many mobile devices which can record videos: mobile phones, organisers, still cameras and computers with built in cameras. You can use any device but the video quality and more specifically the sound quality might vary. However, this is not the most important factor for first video projects. Many teachers with whom we work use still cameras with satisfactory results. It can help to have one video recording device for each group of students but you can also work with just one camera if you make sure that you have a good system for sharing this camera.
2. Make sure that you can transfer your videos to the computer: You need to check this before you start with your projects. The video material needs to be copied onto the computer before you can start editing. There are basically two different procedures:
• for tape-based cameras (older models): a “fire wire” (also called IEEE 1394 or iLink) cable is necessary to copy the video footage on to the computer
• for memory card cameras: a card reader or a USB link is used to copy the footage on to the computer
If you use the video function of a mobile phone you might be able to use “Bluetooth” to transfer the video clips to the computer.
3. Check that your editing software can import the transferred video clips: Once all the video clips are saved on your computer (make sure that you remember where you have stored them!) you can import them into the editing software. We normally use Moviemaker on the Windows platform as this software is usually included with all Windows computers but if not you can download it for free from Microsoft) or iMovie for Macintosh computers.
It is easier if no more than 3 students work on one computer at a time, so if you have a computer room, it would be a very good place to do video editing. Editing can also be done on notebooks and this may be something that can be set as homework (especially for secondary school students).
Additionally we recommend that for video projects you also have available:
• an account to a video platform (youtube, vimeo)
• internet access
• a video projector to show the final results
For further reference, please also look into the section on our mediaeducation.net web and the links we have added in the "Useful links" section of this website. The attachments to this page will also give you more information about video cameras and editing software.
written by Armin Hottmann, © 2010 copyright by divisproject.eu, creative commons
