Doing a Digital Project - tips and advice

Important Advice. Organize yourself

Plan ahead. Use a Videomap(doc) | pdf version to chart your course.

Write a tentative script.

Take/find the photos or film video.

Adjust the script for unplanned, opportune additions.

Always be safe. Contrary to what you may see on TV, no cool or humorous shot is worth getting injured.

 

Guidelines & Tips for the project

1. Use Microsoft Photo Story (free) or Apple's iMovie to create the show.

Read the tutorial: Tech learning's PhotoStory Tutorial or Photo Story tutorials by David Jakes.

Watch the iMovie tutorial | iMovie 08 tutorial | Create an iMovie Project | Support

iMovie tips and tutorials Using photos in iMovie tutorial

Begin with an idea and a storyboard | iMovie storyboard form | Storyboard 2

Movie rubrics - Rubric 1| Rubric 2 | Rubric 3 | Video Project Rubric | MYO Rubric

 

2. Your project should begin with a title and an introduction.

It must contain at least 10 photos or images. The project should be no longer than 5 - 10 minutes.

3. If you use someone else's photos or images, an attribution slide must be included at the end of your project. Other people's photos must be licensed under Creative Commons.

4. Take your photos. Read Tell the story in pictures.

• If you plan to include people's faces, get their permission, first. Respecting each person's privacy is a vital human right. (Notice how the kids at Richie's school who made life 'round here projects, avoided clear shots of people's faces.)
• What is your school's policy about taking photos of students in school? Find out.
• Generally, photos of people taken out of school, in public places, may not require special permission.
• It is always best to learn the laws and rules in your area or state BEFORE you take photos.

Always take a few more photos than you anticipate needing. It is much easier to delete an extra photo,
than to need one at the last minute.

Here are great tips about taking photos.

5. Narrate the story.

6. Use the same transition throughout your whole project. I know it is hard to choose. But having several kinds of transitions makes your project look messy.

7. Music is not required. Only instrumental music may be used. Music is included in Photo Story. Other music must be licensed under Creative Commons or public domain. You must prove this by showing the download link or the cd.

8. Proof your digital project. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work.

What's with all these rules?
You may want to publish your creation on the Internet or show it outside of your classroom. If you do that, it must abide by copyright laws. It is best to build your project within those rules from the start. Additionally, some people have religious or personal objections to having their picture taken. We should all respect that. Period.

Done Already? Excellent!

You get an additional mission. Make a photo essay of the class doing the project. Or make a how to using photos, text, sound and video for your classmates. Demonstrate the steps for making a digital photo slide show project. Include one totally terrific tip.

Resources:

Internet Hunts / Nature / Computers / Pennsylvania Projects / Puzzles & Projects / Problem & Project based Learning / Mrs. O's House home page

posted 7/2007 In the spirit of Thomas Paine - released to public domain by Cynthia J. O'Hora

Aligned with the following Pa Academic Standards - Reading, Writing Speaking, History, Civics and Government, Mathematics, Civics, Science and Technology
Aligned with the National Standards for Civics and Government