using video projects in the classroom jim demmers march 27, 2008

Using Video Using Video Projects in the Projects in the

ClassroomClassroom

Jim Demmers

March 27, 2008

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TopicsTopics

• Video project work flow

• Video capture, editing, compression and codecs

• Classroom video projects that work

• Project ideas for your classrooms

• Video project work flow

• Video capture, editing, compression and codecs

• Classroom video projects that work

• Project ideas for your classrooms

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Video Project Work FlowVideo Project Work Flow

• Storyboard your idea

• Shoot you video

• Capture your video to a NLE program

• Edit to fine-tune your story

• Export the final product

• Storyboard your idea

• Shoot you video

• Capture your video to a NLE program

• Edit to fine-tune your story

• Export the final product

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The Storyboard The Storyboard

• A series of diagrams that depict the blocking of each scene in a video production

• Should include a short written description of the action taking place

• A necessary first step in designing any sort of media production

• A series of diagrams that depict the blocking of each scene in a video production

• Should include a short written description of the action taking place

• A necessary first step in designing any sort of media production

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Shooting Your VideoShooting Your Video

• Shoot to edit

» Always consider how your current shot is going to fit into the overall sequence

» Include a few seconds of “video slop” before and after each shot

» Consider headroom and the rule-of-thirds when framing your shots

• Shoot to edit

» Always consider how your current shot is going to fit into the overall sequence

» Include a few seconds of “video slop” before and after each shot

» Consider headroom and the rule-of-thirds when framing your shots

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Shooting TipsShooting Tips

• Wear headphones to monitor audio

• Use a tripod and limit zooming/panning

• Level the tripod and camera

• Be careful using autofocus

• Set the camera white balance

• Avoid backlit shots

• Wear headphones to monitor audio

• Use a tripod and limit zooming/panning

• Level the tripod and camera

• Be careful using autofocus

• Set the camera white balance

• Avoid backlit shots

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Capture Your Video to a NLECapture Your Video to a NLE

• iMovie, Moviemaker, Premier, and Final Cut Pro can all capture & import video

• Most cameras now have a firewire/i.link port for off-loading video

• Either import individual clips from your HD or capture them directly to the NLE

• Captured clips should always be given meaningful names

• iMovie, Moviemaker, Premier, and Final Cut Pro can all capture & import video

• Most cameras now have a firewire/i.link port for off-loading video

• Either import individual clips from your HD or capture them directly to the NLE

• Captured clips should always be given meaningful names

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Edit To Fine-Tune Your StoryEdit To Fine-Tune Your Story

• Editing “shapes” the story and provides emotional impact

• The storyboard should be used as a guide to fine-tuning your story

• Transitions and effects are fun to play with but their use is best kept to a minimum

• Adding a music track to your video can greatly enhance its effect

• Editing “shapes” the story and provides emotional impact

• The storyboard should be used as a guide to fine-tuning your story

• Transitions and effects are fun to play with but their use is best kept to a minimum

• Adding a music track to your video can greatly enhance its effect

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Edit To Fine-Tune Your StoryEdit To Fine-Tune Your Story

• Review your footage and look for edit points that will help tell your story

• Arrange your clips in sequence on the timeline

• Add transitions and effects sparingly

• Mix audio (voiceover, music, sound effects) in sync with your video

• Review your footage and look for edit points that will help tell your story

• Arrange your clips in sequence on the timeline

• Add transitions and effects sparingly

• Mix audio (voiceover, music, sound effects) in sync with your video

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Edit To Fine-Tune Your StoryEdit To Fine-Tune Your Story

• You can “sweeten” the sound by using a normalize filter on your audio

• Adding titles not only identifies the subject of your production but also serves as an important way to highlight your student’s participation

• How you export your final production depends upon who your audience is

• You can “sweeten” the sound by using a normalize filter on your audio

• Adding titles not only identifies the subject of your production but also serves as an important way to highlight your student’s participation

• How you export your final production depends upon who your audience is

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Export The Final ProductExport The Final Product

• Most output will require compression

• A codec is software or hardware that enables Compression and DECompression of audio and video files.

• Must balance file size, bit rate, and quality

• All codecs are either Lossy or lossless

• Contained within software “wrappers” • (such as QuickTime & AVI)

• Most output will require compression

• A codec is software or hardware that enables Compression and DECompression of audio and video files.

• Must balance file size, bit rate, and quality

• All codecs are either Lossy or lossless

• Contained within software “wrappers” • (such as QuickTime & AVI)

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A Few Words About Bit RatesA Few Words About Bit Rates

• Audio (MP3)

• 32 kbit/s — AM quality

• 96 kbit/s — FM quality

• 128–160 kbit/s — Standard Bitrate quality; difference can sometimes be obvious (e.g. bass quality)

• 192 kbit/s — DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) quality. Quickly becoming the new 'standard' bitrate for MP3 music; difference can be heard by few people.

• 224–320 kbit/s — Near CD quality. Sound is nearly

indistinguishable from most CDs.

• Audio (MP3)

• 32 kbit/s — AM quality

• 96 kbit/s — FM quality

• 128–160 kbit/s — Standard Bitrate quality; difference can sometimes be obvious (e.g. bass quality)

• 192 kbit/s — DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) quality. Quickly becoming the new 'standard' bitrate for MP3 music; difference can be heard by few people.

• 224–320 kbit/s — Near CD quality. Sound is nearly

indistinguishable from most CDs.

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A Few Words About Bit RatesA Few Words About Bit Rates

• Video (MPEG2)

• 16 kbit/s — videophone quality (minimum necessary for a consumer-acceptable "talking head" picture)

• 128 – 384 kbit/s — business-oriented videoconferencing system quality

• 5 Mbit/s — DVD quality

• 15 Mbit/s — HDTV quality

• 36 Mbit/s — HD DVD quality

• 54 Mbit/s — Blu-ray Disc quality

• Video (MPEG2)

• 16 kbit/s — videophone quality (minimum necessary for a consumer-acceptable "talking head" picture)

• 128 – 384 kbit/s — business-oriented videoconferencing system quality

• 5 Mbit/s — DVD quality

• 15 Mbit/s — HDTV quality

• 36 Mbit/s — HD DVD quality

• 54 Mbit/s — Blu-ray Disc quality

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Commonly Used Video CodecsCommonly Used Video Codecs(Lossy)(Lossy)

• Cinepak: outdated but once ubiquitous

• MPEG-2: used for DVD & HDTV

• MPEG-4: high quality - streaming, CD, TV

• Sorenson 3: good overall for web and CD

• WMV: streaming - MS only and proprietary

• RealVideo: streaming but proprietary

• Cinepak: outdated but once ubiquitous

• MPEG-2: used for DVD & HDTV

• MPEG-4: high quality - streaming, CD, TV

• Sorenson 3: good overall for web and CD

• WMV: streaming - MS only and proprietary

• RealVideo: streaming but proprietary

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Commonly Used Audio CodecsCommonly Used Audio Codecs

• WAV: PC lossless audio file storage (MS)

• AIFF: lossless audio file storage (Apple)

• PCM: for digital video and CD - lossless

• MP3: audio file storage for music - lossy

• AAC: music and DVD audio - lossy

• WMA: a lossless and lossy wrapper(MS)

• WAV: PC lossless audio file storage (MS)

• AIFF: lossless audio file storage (Apple)

• PCM: for digital video and CD - lossless

• MP3: audio file storage for music - lossy

• AAC: music and DVD audio - lossy

• WMA: a lossless and lossy wrapper(MS)

Compression Examples

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Compression For the WebCompression For the Web

HDV, 30 fps, 26 mbits/sec, 148 MB

“Georgia Aquarium”

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Compression For the WebCompression For the Web

“Georgia Aquarium”H.264, 15 fps, 1 mbits/sec, 5.5 MB

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Compression For the WebCompression For the Web

“Georgia Aquarium”

Cinepak 15 fps, 2 mbits/sec, 10.4 MB

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Your TurnYour Turn

“Pacific Octopus”DV, 30 fps, 248 mbits/sec, 570 MB

Classroom Video Projects That Work

Some examples

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Highland Ranch ElementaryHighland Ranch Elementary

“Time Team”

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How Did They Do It?How Did They Do It?

• Students divided in teams that each had a camera operator, a director, and talent

• Students took turns playing each role

• Each student wrote a script highlighting six strategies for becoming a great reader

• memorized their lines, practiced speaking, shot the scenes and edited the footage

• Students divided in teams that each had a camera operator, a director, and talent

• Students took turns playing each role

• Each student wrote a script highlighting six strategies for becoming a great reader

• memorized their lines, practiced speaking, shot the scenes and edited the footage

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Highland Ranch ElementaryHighland Ranch Elementary

“Time Team”

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Springfield Public SchoolsSpringfield Public Schools

“Platinum”

Elements Commercials

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Springfield Public SchoolsSpringfield Public Schools

“Phosphorus”

Elements Commercials

Project Ideas For Your Classroom

Things to consider

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Video stylesVideo styles

• Instructional – talking head speaks directly to the camera and shares information

• Situational – “candid” shots of classroom activities

• Scripted narrative – students serve as actors and must memorizer their lines

• Voiceover – no actor dialogue. Could be stills or video

• Instructional – talking head speaks directly to the camera and shares information

• Situational – “candid” shots of classroom activities

• Scripted narrative – students serve as actors and must memorizer their lines

• Voiceover – no actor dialogue. Could be stills or video

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Production ConsiderationsProduction Considerations

• One camera or two?

• Wireless or on-camera microphone?

• Ancillary light source or ambient light?

• Location, location, location!

• Copyright concerns

• And what about release forms?

• One camera or two?

• Wireless or on-camera microphone?

• Ancillary light source or ambient light?

• Location, location, location!

• Copyright concerns

• And what about release forms?

Project Ideas For Your Classroom

Let’s brainstorm!!

Questions

jim.demmers@gtri.gatech.eduwww.f3program.org