by Judy Robinson and Julie Dodd
Mentoring Committee

Mentoring Monday

During the JEA San Francisco convention, we delivered a hands-on session in the computer lab on how to create slideshows that would be a video to be uploaded to online newspapers, blogs or video services such as YouTube or Vimeo.

At previous conventions, we’ve taught a workshop in how to use SoundSlides, a program created by a journalist. But the final Soundslides production is a Flash file (.swf extension) and Flash is becoming historical.  Because Flash cannot be played on iPhones and iPads, we’re all moving away from creating Flash products.  Hence, the move to use iMovie ’11.

The step-by-step instructions are available for you to download here as a 2.2MB pdf: How2make-slideshow-iMovie11

Those who attended the workshop took about 90 minutes to create their own slideshow in iMovie, as we walked through the steps as a group.

Judy led the step-by-step process (which is documented in the instructions handout). Julie walked around the lab to assist those with questions — and she heard quite a few “Oh, wow” comments as the group could see both the potential of and relative easiness of creating an iMovie.

Advisers and students in the workshop talked about the potential of iMovie to create a wide range of media projects — from school events (like Homecoming or a school play) to how-to storytelling (like making a Halloween outfit or redecorating a bedroom) to profiles (like student hobbies or new teachers).

Julie Dodd interviews Tom Czbek, a researcher who was locating Whooping Cranes at Poynes Prairie. You can use the file of the interview in creating an IMovie.

Julie Dodd interviews Tom Czbek, a researcher who was locating Whooping Cranes at Poynes Prairie. You can use the file of the interview in creating an IMovie.

The audio file that goes with the images/slides is a combination of Judy introducing the topic of the Sandhill cranes and Whooping cranes and then an interview Julie conducted with Tom Czubek that ran about 20 minutes.  You can tell from the much shorter length of the audio file that a significant amount of editing took place.   As well, a sound clip of the cranes on the prairie singing and making their sounds was recorded and was used as ambient background sound.  A small music clip of royalty-free music provided by Apple’s GarageBand was used for an intro/outro.

Both Julie and Judy took photos of the cranes on the Paynes Prairie (in north central Florida).  They had a combined total of more than 400 photos of cranes — both Sandhill and Whooping!  For your ease of use, we selected only 72 photos (you may not need that many) and zipped them together with the audio.

Sandhill cranes fly in formation over Paynes Prairie. You can select from 72 photos to create your own iMovie.

Sandhill cranes fly in formation over Paynes Prairie. You can select from 72 photos to create your own iMovie.

The availability of these resources (audio file and photos) is time-limited.  This file of photos and audio clip is 237MB.  The space where these files reside will be needed for others projects, so these iMovie/crane files will be removed by end of July, if not sooner.

Some of the mentors attending the San Francisco convention received a DVD of these files, but all those DVDs have been given away.  The files are copyrighted and may not be sold or used for another presentation.  They may be used for learning for you, dear mentor, your mentees, their students’ learning, and others who are reading this blog post.

The file is big!!! So once you click on this link, you will need to wait for it (237MB) to download to your computer.  The file is also zipped — meaning several files are zipped together to make one large file.  To unzip the file simply click on it twice if you are using a Macintosh computer.  The file should unzip, and you will see a folder called “72cranes” that has the images in it.  You will also see an mp3 audio file called “final-audio.mp3”.

If you are using a Windows machine, you will likely need to right-mouse-click on the zipped file and find an option that suggests unzipping the file.  Always use the contents of the unzipped folder.  Never try to use files inside something that is zipped.  You may think it possible, but that will lead to difficulties that are hard to resolve.

You may download and use the files to learn how to create such a video yourself.  We really encourage you to do so because:
a)  It is easier than you’d think to make your first slideshow-video with iMovie ’11
b)  iMovie for the Mac is only $14.99 if you don’t already have it
c)  You will find this skill set useful for both yourself and your mentees

Enjoy!