Using the Flip Cam in theUsing the Flip Cam in theClassroomClassroom

The Ins and Outs of Filmmaking as a Teaching Tool

Introduction Introduction

Using filmmaking as a teaching toolWe will be covering the use of the Flip

Cam, Windows Movie Maker and related software, as well as the timeline and procedure used in the Portuguese 101 class semester project – making a short film in Portuguese

Overview Overview

The purpose of this project:To motivate the use of Portuguese creativelyTo level the playing field among studentsTo make students think in Portuguese and

incorporate concepts recently acquired in the classroom environment in a concrete manner

To teach the important skill of pre-visualization – the filming itself only begins when all the relevant

details, locations and lines of dialogue are completely fleshed out

First Step: The Pitch!First Step: The Pitch!

Presenting the concept to the studentsEmphasis will be on the Portuguese, not on the

technologyGrading rubric for final – reducing techno-anxiety

– 60% of the grade is for content of final piece– 25% of the grade is for entertainment value– And only 15% is for technique – use a tripod and make

sure the Portuguese is clear and easy to understand -- although anything else is appreciated!

Presenting the Flip Cam – brief in class demoEvery step will be scheduled and receive a grade!

Second Step: The ScriptSecond Step: The Script Treatment and initial concept

All topics accepted from serious to frivolous, as long as they are in Portuguese

1st draft of script, subtitles and production notes Mandatory meetings to pre-visualize production issues and/or

problems – locations, effects, camera angles, etc. Portuguese is corrected – script returned to students for final tweaking

Recording an MP3 of the dialogue for practice Through MP3 recording software, for use on Ipods/players

The Mid Term – Grade Distribution Lines recited from memory, properly pronounced (25%) Final version of script, subtitles and production notes (25%) Plus subject matter from textbook through Toolkit (50%)

Third Step: Film ProductionThird Step: Film Production The Flip Cam Codecs and viewing raw footage

Meetings to discuss problems with Codecs and file sizes – (using Gspot) also to check problems with sound or stability

Editing with Windows Movie Maker or iMovie Special sessions with individual groups to teach them how to

effectively use editing software Delivery as an AVI or MOV file

Delivery on a disk or memory stick (20% of final grade) Compilation into a final DVD for everyone

Using commercial DVD publishing software The “Premiere”

Final validation of the results of each group’s labor

Where to Get Where to Get thethe SoftwareSoftware G-Spot – Codec information software (free)

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/ Audio Recorder Pro (mp3 recorder -- not free)

http://www.ezaudiorecorder.com/ Audacity (mp3 recorder -- needs plug in -- free)

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ LAME mp3 plug in (needed for Audacity -- free)

http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/ Windows Movie Maker (comes with XP)

http://www.microsoft.com Adobe Products – Encore DVD Publisher

http://www.adobe.com

SummarySummary

Students produced a film in Portuguese above their level of fluency

Students are motivated and excited to do the project and utilize the language in a concrete manner by telling an original story

The DVD validates the experience and gives them a concrete memento of their experience

Many thanks toMany thanks to

Jama Coartney and the Digital Media Lab The Department of Spanish, Italian and

PortugueseThe Department of Systems EngineeringThe students of the Portuguese 101 classwww.traceanimation.com