Use software and other tools appropriate for the task.
Artifact:
Video: “Running Shoes 101: How to Select the Appropriate Running Shoes“
Reflection:
This video is my Educational Video Workshop assignment from EdTech561-Advanced Web-based Multimedia Development. Being an avid runner, I have met a lot of new runners who do not realize that running in the wrong type of shoe can cause injuries. This video provides a basic introduction to the various types of shoes available and how to select the appropriate type.
This was one of my most technically challenging projects of the entire program, mainly due to the fact that the skill set required for this project was new to me at the time. During this project I researched and tested various software tools before settling on the best combination of tools. To produce this video I employed software tools for storyboarding, script writing, audio recording and editing, graphics creation and editing, slide presentation, and of course, video production and editing.
The greatest opportunity this project provided was for me to discover and gain experience using the appropriate process for developing educational videos. This includes steps such as audience analysis, content outlines leading to a narrative treatment, scripts, story boards, and production plans in addition to the technical aspects of audio/video editing.
My biggest challenge was transforming my sketched out, paper vision into a “real” video format. It took me a few tries to get the technical details worked out. I ran into a few dead-ends with software options due to steep learning curves or lack of necessary functionality before finally arriving at a satisfactory solution.
This work shows my ability to research and select the right kinds of tools for a given situation considering existing constraints. In this case I came up with a creative solution using a combination of basic tools to create a product that is technically sound while achieving a professional appearance.
Although challenging, the process of identifying and solving the issues that I encountered on this project enabled me to learn a great deal about the technical aspects of designing and producing a video. I’m certain that I learned more by facing these challenges than if I was able to simply breeze through it without encountering those challenges. Solving these issues gave me confidence in my video production skills and a realization that it isn’t as difficult as I had previously envisioned.
Perhaps most importantly it provided me with a sound framework to work within on a number of projects that have followed and continue even today. This project taught me what to consider when conceptualizing and planning a video production. Most importantly I was able to acquire an understanding of valuable tools such as story boards and production plans as a result of this project. Plus I learned not to be intimidated by video productions and that although they require a lot of work it is a fun, enjoyable process.
“It’s okay to make mistakes. Mistakes are our teachers – they help us to learn.” -John Bradshaw
