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Windows Movie Maker | Show Menu |
Digital Storytelling l Storytelling Examples l All About PhotoStory3 | Resources l Forum
This page is a work in progress and encourages input from others; you can make your comments at the bottom of the page
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Windows Movie Maker is a basic video editing program. It comes with Windows XP and later - so you probably already have it on your school computers, if not it can be downloaded here (Vista or XP). It can be used to edit video or a sequence of still shots and can be used to create digital stories, videos and clay animations. |
The program is easy to use, and there is a lot of help available within the 'Help' menu and also on their website.
What age group is WMM best for? | How can WMM be used in the classroom?| How to Create a Digital Story |Are there any Issues? | Advantages/Disadvantages | Looking for more help?
Windows Movie Maker receives 4.5 stars as it is a useful tool that can be used to create and edit several types of media (digital stories, video, clay animation....) but there are a few tricks that need to be learned. Anyone who is planning on using this (or any other tool) should experiment prior to use so that students get the most out of the experience and any potential issues can be identified and dealt with.
What age group is Windows Movie Maker best for?
Windows Movie Maker is most suitable for older students, year 3's can handle it with instruction.
Older students can explore the program more fully and apply more sophisticated transitions and special effects. However, if you are teaching younger students and think that you would like to create a digital story perhaps try using PhotoStory.
How can Windows Movie Maker be used in the classroom? What is it's best application?
Windows Movie Maker makes communicating both visual and aural information to a large number of people simple, and along the way students begin to learn some basic video and audio editing skills.
Windows Movie Maker can be used as an alternative method of presentation for student assessment across all learning areas. There are plenty of links to SACSA, especially throughout the English learning area.
Possible uses include:
- narratives
students write a narrative and create artworks then record their own voice - procedure texts
students can demonstrate a procedure from a completed procedure text rather than create a poster and do an oral - if other students want to learn how any of the procedures are done they can view the multimedia rather than having to ask the 'expert' student - poetry
students can create 'visual poetry' adding images to poems they have created - newscasts
Students can create an edition of the news - perhaps it could be an alternative to a class newsletter - 'book trailer'
rather than writing a book review students could create a 'book trailer' - advertisements
students can promote a product and make a 'television' advertisement - in mathematics
students can explain their understandings of concepts through stories or information
students could tell a story of "Mr. Isosceles" the triangle including his properties
students could search for, photograph and create a digital story about tessellating shapes in the playground - in science
students can perform and explain how and why things happen (for example, look at the egg in a bottle experiment) - excursions
students can use photos or short movies that were captured while on excursion and then add audio that explains what they learned or found most interesting - classroom happenings
students can take photos or short movies of everyday classroom happenings and explain what is happening - a great help for new students to the class
The possibilities really are endless - if you can write it or tell someone about it, you can create it in Windows Movie Maker!
Students are enthusiastic about using the computers to present their information, if you have an Interactive Whiteboard you could even host a 'red carpet' event at the end of the unit.
Be sure to look at the Storytelling Examples page
How to Create a Windows Movie Maker Digital Story (3:26)
This video shows viewers how to create a simple Digital Story in Windows Movie Maker and then how to save it for viewing on another computer, it can be found on Youtube
Knowledge of Windows Movie Maker: It is important to know about the program and how to use it before introducing it to students.
- An easy way to get to know the program is to attempt the task that you are setting for your students
- This way you can identify any potential issues that students may have and perhaps create a step-by-step hand out
- Remember there is a lot of information online if you get stuck
File Formats: When you are new to the program file formats can cause frustration. To view many digital stories created on different computers you need to save each file as a Movie File. It is important to know how you want to share the created works in order to choose the right option, but once you have done it right once, it no longer becomes an issue.
- While creating and editing a Windows Movie Maker file it is important to save it as a Windows Movie Maker Project (.MSWMM) This is the default when by clicking File>Save Project as...
- When you have finished creating and editing and want to share the created works, it is important to save as a Movie File, (File>Save Movie File) which can be confusing as there are many options, but once you have done it right once, it will no longer be an issue.
Audio Recording: An important part of digital storytelling is in the audio.
- If you elect to record your audio in Windows Movie Maker be aware that you can not edit it, if you make a mistake you have to start again.
This can be overcome by using an audio recording program like Audacity (a free download) which is simple to use and allows students more freedom with the creation of their audio. Parts of the recording can be cut from either end or anywhere in the middle, while younger students are not likely to know that this is a possibility it will familiarize them with the program so when they want to edit their audio they are able to more easily.
Student privacy and the Law: It is vital that we keep students identities safe while also adhering to the law
- If you are uploading digital stories to a host site e.g. youtube - make sure that no names (or only 1st names) are used and there are no identifying features in the clip - school uniform, logos.....
- Make sure that parents have signed your schools photo release before taking or using photos of students - if photos of students are in the digital stories do not upload them to a public site
- Students need to be taught about copyright and how a breach could affect them
It is ideal if students get into the habit of creating their own audio either from found objects or putting together a combination of free loops - be creative!
Below are the advantages and disadvantages of using and viewing content created by a program like Windows Movie Maker.
| Advantages of using Windows Movie Maker |
Disadvantages of using Windows Movie Maker | |
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Student engagement is likely to rise Student understanding is likely to rise as the creation of a digital story is seen as an active process Students get the opportunity to learn planning, capturing, editing and recording skills that they may not be given a chance to otherwise Students still have to plan and think about their writing - it is the style of presentation that is different and more engaging Creating a digital story is a fun way to present information Digital stories can be used as an introduction to a unit of work, stimulating student interest As familiarity increases, students can explore more of the features learn new skills
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The teacher has to be initially interested enough to learn the program To get the best result, you either need to record your voice perfectly OR learn another program like Audacity Hardware (computers, headsets, disk space) and software (e.g. Windows Movie Maker, Audacity) need to be installed on the schools computers The creation of successful digital stories takes time It is unlikely that Students in the early years an possibly early primary years will cope with the complexity of Windows Movie Maker but PhotoStory may be an option Some students are not confident in their speaking and will find recording their voice for others to hear daunting |
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| Advantages of viewing Windows Movie Maker | Disadvantages of viewing Windows Movie Maker | |
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Viewing a class of digital stories can take less time than reading a poster or book review Digital stories can be shown to people anytime, anywhere Students are generally really proud of their work, especially if there is a showcase at the end of the unit |
Viewing created digital stories are seen as a passive process (though students are generally eager to see what other students have created) Some students are not confident in their speaking and can feel embarrassed when their work is shown to a wider audience Viewing all students digital stories can take some time |
MS Word Downloads
- What do I need to create a digital story? (previously mentioned)
- Student notes - How to create a simple digital story using WMM (previously mentioned)
Youtube*:
- How to create and save a Digital Story using Windows Movie Maker (3:28)
This video shows viewers how to create a simple Digital Story in Windows Movie Maker and then how to save it. - How to Convert a Windows Movie Maker Video to Youtube (1:59)
This video shows how to import audio and visual clips before showing you how to save the file for youtube and how to upload the file to youtube. - Movie Maker Video Editing Tutorial (9:03)
This video is very detailed and explains importing and trimming clips, inserting transitions and effects, saving Windows Movie Maker files for different playbacks (computer, email, internet, CD) - Windows Movie Maker Tricks: Episode 1 (1:49)
This video could be used to extend students use of WMM, however, it is the only episode. Perhaps your students could create new episodes!
*These links are all external
Teaching early years and want to know more about PhotoStory? Look at the All About PhotoStory3 page
Also have a look at the Resources page for useful websites and online articles about digital storytelling in general
| Page designed by Anita Beaglehole with contributions from Velma Beaglehole and Cleve Area School as part of EDET3302 Learning with Computers |
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Comments:
From tsweeney - 11/7/09 5:30 PM
From bain0035 - 11/6/09 9:47 AM
This is a great page with lots of useful information! :D
I thought you could have a video example of a movie made by students using movie maker so here is a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRjAPBLOYO0
Last Modified 10/15/09 7:35 PM
Thank you Anita for your work on updating this page. There are some wonderful examples that can be found on your linked page but the double navigation bars mean that these can be easily overlooked.
Some useful links that I have bookmarked on del.icio.us (tsweeney) are: